Living History: travels to South Jersey

Four McAllister Generations

From Left: Harry, Grace, Francy, Betsy, Grandpop (Harry Sr.), Josh, Grandmom (Margie), Heidi and John.

John's Teaburning relatives - Alexander Moore, Henry Seeley and Josiah Seeley.

Grandmom and Grandpop McAllister

John and I spent a couple of days in New Jersey last weekend. John's cousin, Meredith, got married so it was a great reunion of family, most of whom I have met a couple of times. We enjoyed spending time with family, but one of my favorite parts of the trip was hearing stories from John's Grandmom and Grandpop and also from his dad, Harry. I deeply love John's family, his parents are always fun to be around and his grandparents are the sweetest people I have ever met. His Grandmom has Alzheimers and his Grandpop takes care of her. His Grandmom loves to tell stories...many of them over and over. I love hearing how they met: at church. His Grandmom was in the choir and she saw Harry McAllister, Sr. in the pews. She orchestrated a double date.

With John's dad, Harry, you hear the whole history of the family. On the way from the airport, we passed a bridge where John's ancestor fought during the revolutionary war. An ancestor of John's ran a Room and Board house with a tavern (see above picture). His name was Jacob Ware, which is on Grandpop's side of the family. I also saw where Harry's grandfather lived and where Harry grew up and went to school. John's Grandpop has not moved more than a two mile radius during his life. His Grandmom has always lived in Cumberland County. Many McAllisters populate the area.

I grew up on a farm that has been in my family for five generations and have always been interested in the history of the farm and family. There is something about the history in south jersey that is different for me than from learning about my family history. I can't figure out if it is the length of history: being in the revolutionary war and the civil war and everything in between, or if it is the fact that it is all brand new to me. Either way, I loved hearing the stories.

I look forward to the next time we go back. The area is like stepping back in time. So many houses are still in tact from the late 1700s or 1800s. And still beautiful. I would love a tour or even to live in one. Although, both John and his parents recommended that I not live in one.

It was a beautiful trip with a wedding, history, family and much, much laughter. My kind of weekend.

Urban Farming

For the past two weeks, I have been anxiously awaiting my vegetables to grow. Yesterday, I came home from a weekend away and found plants poking through the soil! Recently, I have been dreaming of what could happen with my parents farm when my dad cannot farm anymore.

My sister and I have been dreaming of creating an organic farm for the past few years. Two years out of college, my sister and I had a community garden plot that we created in the empty lot across from our apartment. I loved being out in the garden plot.

I add to the dream of the organic farm, the dream of creating a coop with our friends. Jamie and John could brew beer, Melissa and I could create a restaurant - create the barn to be a restaurant. We could plant an orchard and a vineyard. We could have chickens and goats and sheep for my friend Ellie to make yarn. Dreams....

One of my memories of growing up on a farm was getting up early in the morning and picking strawberries, beans, peas or some other vegetable in the garden. We had corn, zucchini, squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, lettuce, sweet corn, beans, peas, beets, and more! Another favorite memory was to carve our names in zucchini when they were small and then when they grew big, our names were still in it! There are great pictures of us with our zucchini.

I am so thankful to have grown up on a farm. I am so proud of my dad for working his butt off, making sacrifices, and loving his job on the farm.

Now, as an adult, I love coming home and climbing into my garden, pulling weeks, watering, talking to my plants, and cheering them on to grow and produce scrumptious treats!

This year, we have planted a feast: green onions, yellow onions, edemame, peas, carrots, beans, parsnips, many different peppers, cucumbers for pickling, and three kinds of tomatoes: roma, early girl, and beef. I also planted spinach, spring greens and arugula.

Oh, and this year, we have a mushroom log!

Last year, we planted strawberries, hops, and asparagus. The year before we planted rhubarb and Raspberries plus all the herbs. The asparagus won't be ready for a couple more years. The rhubarb has already made for some yummy desserts and the rest will soon be frozen for later delicious eating. We are hoping for a good crop of strawberries and raspberries for eating and hops for beer brewing!

Now if only I could have chickens, a brick oven and a picnic table in my back yard....John says the yard is too small......