The Farmer’s Creed

I think I have reached a point in my life when I am rebelling on laboring on Labor Day. I didn’t give much thought as to the requests or shared comments. Please forgive me. These items did come up, and I thought you might enjoy. Take care and remember, I will be seeing you around. –Agnes

I had a call from a gentleman that wanted to know what to do with banana peppers.

You can mix them with your hot peppers in making that southern pepper sauce. Here is a recipe that came from Food.com. It is so good to just eat out of the jar or with vegetables. Delicious with fried chicken.

Sweet Pickled Banana Peppers from Food.com

Ingredients:

2 canning jars (1/2 pint size)

1⁄2 pound banana pepper, seeded and sliced crossways into rings

Pickling Liquid:

2 cups white vinegar

2⁄3 cup white sugar

1⁄2 teaspoon mustard seeds

1⁄2 teaspoon celery seed

Directions: Sterilize two 1/2 pint jars. Bring the vinegar, sugar, mustard seed and celery seed to a rolling boil. Place peppers in the 1/2 pint jars. Pour on the hot pickling juice and bring liquid to within 1/2” of the top. Be sure the edge of the jar has no juice on it. Place lids and screw on bands finger-tip tight. Seal jar and leave for two weeks.

This is an heirloom recipe that uses a method no longer recommended by the USDA/NCHFP (National Center for Home Food Preservation). Current guidelines recommend processing in a boiling water bath at least 10 minutes at sea level to 1000 feet in elevation (more time at higher elevations) and left to cool, upright and undisturbed, on a cloth-protected counter for 24 hours. Check for seal; if the jar hasn’t sealed, either re-process the jars within the 24 hours or refrigerate and use first.

The following was sent to me by Earline Cole, Bonaire. Enjoy.

Farmer’s Creed

•I believe a man’s greatest possession is his dignity and that no calling bestows this more abundantly than farming.

•I believe hard work and honest sweat are the building blocks of a person’s character.

•I believe that farming, despite its hardships and disappointments, is the most honest and honorable way a man can spend his days on this earth.

•I believe my children are learning values that will last a lifetime and can be learned in no other way.

•I believe farming provides education for life and that no other occupation teaches so much about birth, growth and maturity in such a variety of ways.

•I believe many of the best things in life are free: the splendor of a sunrise, the rapture of wide open spaces, and the exhilarating sight of your land greening each spring.

•I believe true happiness comes from watching your crops ripen in the field, your children grow tall in the sun and your whole family feel the pride that springs from their shared experience.

•I believe that by my toil I am giving more to the world than I am taking from it, an honor that does not come to all men.

•I believe my life will be measured ultimately by what I have done for my fellowmen, and by this standard I fear no judgment.

•I believe when a man grows old and sums up his days, he should be able to stand tall and feel pride in the life he’s lived.

•I believe in farming because it makes all this possible.

Written for New Holland and originally published in October 1975.