The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

On Sundays, when I was a little girl, all my Grandma's children
would go to her house after church, and we would eat a Sunday
dinner. There were about 6 grandchildren at that time (now there
are 17). My grandparents live in Mount Clemens, and had a large
field (7 acres) where they grew vegetables: tomatoes, pumpkins,
squash, and corn; there were also pear and apple trees, and grape
vines. They sold the vegetables and fruit to the fruit market, and
also sold them to passers-by from their garage or the stand on the
road. Most of the time, my aunts and uncles would work in the
field with my grandparents hoeing the weeds, and someone would be
at the stand and the garage selling the fruits and vegetables.
There were days where people used to come and actually pick the
tomatoes themselves, too; one vision that stands out in my mind is
that of Italian women carrying the baskets on their heads. While
the grown-ups were working, we either pulled weeds with our hands,
shined the apples and pears, or played on the island of trees that
was in the center of the field, or had a picnic back there.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens

Date learned: 00001970'S