Sunday, November 29, 2015

ADELA'S GARDEN




Life Along the South Texas Sand Sheet

Not far from here a lady named Adela has a garden.  Now and then I’ll visit the garden and invariably find Adela tending the seedling plots or perhaps she’ll be in the strawberry field or even out in her small vineyard examining the plants.  Everything growing around her was borne from her hands.  Usually, she works alone but occasionally someone will stop by to lend a helping hand.  No one with any sense tells Adela how plants should grow; after all, someone who works day after day in a garden gets to know the plants on deeply intimate terms.

Chile Pequin

Adela has hundreds of chile pequin plants in her garden

I seldom say much when I’m in Adela’s garden as not to disturb her work.  I get the impression she has little time for small talk and besides, the concentration on her face tells me not to bother her when she’s in the “flow”.

Adela tending her seedlings

Pumpkins or watermelons or perhaps onions and garlic or rarities like pepino del monte, Adela grows them all.  So you see, there’s always something new to observe.  Granted I am a lover of native plants.  I can spend an entire day roaming the quiet woods looking at the foliage.  Keeping track of growth patterns and making note of soil types; I find very few things as pleasing as wandering the woods amongst the plants.  In that respect, Adela’s garden is an anomaly amidst the natural world; and though I’ve never been too keen on modern agriculture, prone as it is to destroy the land, I do find the concept of a small garden, built from the mindset of self-sufficiency and with nary a thought about pesticides or artificial fertilizers, a good and practical idea.  Granted that Adela works diligently five or six days a week to make her garden productive, but if one is tactical and frugal then a minimalist garden will produce all one needs to become self-sufficient.

The seedlings have been moved to larger pots

Pepino del Monte grows in a vine along the ground

Wild Cucumber or Pepino del Monte

Wild cucumber or pepino del monte is an introduced plant that’s now essentially native in this region.  I grow tired of that anthropocentric term “invasive,” a prejudicial word that eschews one life form and then fully accepts another that is perhaps as “invasive” or more so than the first.  None of it makes much sense until one realizes that most everything in this life is predicated on making one person happy at the expense of others.  So it is that mesquites (that are definitely not invasive) are often called “invasive” and cows (that are absolutely invasive) are never considered as such.  Regardless, the world is constantly changing and plants and animals move about now with mind boggling frequency.  The Columbian Exchange, the Asian Crossroads, the North/South Fluctuation, and now the advent of Global Warming, Climate Change, Chaos (choose your preferred phrase) and the entire concept of what is native and what is soon to be native and what is overwhelming the other and what is mutating into something else has become an evolutionary video flashing before us.

Pepino del monte, by the way, can be pickled or it can be cooked fresh.  My preferred way of eating pepino del monte is as follows.  I should note that my relative, Dario Guerra, makes the most scrumptious pepino del monte I’ve ever eaten.  As I understand it he sautés slices of pepino in oil and then adds tomatoes, onions, a little bit of chile pequin or some other hot stuff and then adds salt and pepper.  Not much to it but Dario combines the ingredients perfectly and I love going over to his house for a bowl of pepino—or picadillo or frijoles y arroz or whatever he has on the stove.  Dario is a born cook or perhaps I should say, chef.


I told the young man from Texas A&M Extension Service to pay close attention to Adela’s advice.  “She knows more about plants in this area than anyone,” I said.



26 comments:

  1. Ah, finally someone who knows exactly what i am talking about. Pepino del monte. I have been in search of seeds for years. As a native of the area, i grew up on eating this delicious vegetable/fruit. My grandfather always grew them and saved seeds. This has been many a year ago. If someone knows how I can acquire some pepino del monte seeds, I would love to know and buy some. I miss eating them. Thanks for any help that can be given. rosiedel04@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello sir.hqve u acquired seeds?I have some if Intrested please let me know

      Delete
  2. I love pepino del monte. Grew up in south texas & my mom always grew them.
    I would appreciate if anybody knows where I can purchase seeds pls contact me at:
    1234tejana@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Has anyone had any luck in obtaining any pepino del monte seeds?

    plantinit101@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Replies
    1. How can I go about getting some seeds from you

      Delete
    2. Can you mail me some pepino de monte seeds? I would really like to plant them and see I can grow them..... Price please

      Delete
    3. They sell pepinos del Monte at the mcallen farmers market.

      Delete
  5. Last year I was at my sister-in-law's house in Alice and I harvested and dried some pepino del monte seeds. I will plant them this spring in Houston at a garden at Texas Southern University. I am collecting heirloom vegetable seed from the South Texas and Gulf Coast and planting a field with collected seed for a seed library. I have done this with a seed library in Fairfield, CT for locally adapted vegetable seed there. If anyone has suggestions for this type of vegetable seed or family heirloom seed with a story to go alone with the seed, please contact me at ecfrisk@gmail.com or efrisk@optonline.net. I also would like to talk to Adela if someone has her contact information or can ask her to contact me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't about Adela , but I know I would love some seeds .I live in Alice , grew up eating them ,but now I can't find them anywhere. I would really appreciate it uf you could sell me some seeds. My elderly Aunt lives in Muleshoe Tx and evefy year asks me if I have some pepino seeds because she too would like some seed ! Thanking you in advance ,

      Delete
    2. Hello all. I see many posts as to who has pepino del monte seeds and who is looking to get some. But I do not see where to purchase them. Anyone out there with some, please share. I will pay for my share. Lets not let this vegetable/fruit go extinct. Please respond, someone has to know some one who has them, or has seeds.

      Delete
  6. I have pepino del monte seeds. But by now everyone does

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Noooo….. I don't have any. Can you please tell me where I could get some?

      Delete
    2. No I am still looking for some , so if you would please let me know whete I can order some I really would appreciate it

      Delete
  7. Please, if you have some seeds from Pepino del Monte, I am very interested in getting some. I as well grew up on this delicacy that every time I think about them I so wish I had some seeds.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'd love some seeds as well. I grew up in Alice and my grandma always grew them. My email is crystalpina33@gmail.com
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  9. Where can I order the seeds for pepino de monte..... I promised my elderly aunt some and can't find the man that sold them down here

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ah, I still need some seeds. Please let me know soon how to get some. Or small plants will work as well if possible.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Rosa. They sell pepino del Monte at the McAllen farmer's market

      Delete
  11. I have plenty of plants up for sale if interested contact me.thanks

    ReplyDelete
  12. Can you send me your info? My email is ptlmg@aol.com. I'm interested in buying several plants. Thnx

    ReplyDelete
  13. I need some pepino del monte seeds. Can I get some from you.

    ReplyDelete
  14. My mom used to grow these and plenty of them. She is now 92 and sadly haven't had any for many many years. Funny thing, my nephew was cleaning out her tool shed after having to move my mom in with us and found a lone dried up Pepino. He planted the seeds,grew like crazy and shared the wealth. Now I save a few pepinos each crop for the seeds and now get to share with my kids. This little pepino gives me such good memories.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I would love to buy some seeds. I have inquired about this for years and have not had a response. Please respond with an answer. I would love some seeds. I live in Jacksonville, Fl.

    ReplyDelete