“Country-fied” tomatoes

Don’t be fooled by tomatoes that are purchased in a grocery store! There’s something very special about tomatoes that are homegrown.

But even beyond that, there’s something even more special about tomatoes that are grown in the country. You know … in the wide-open spaces, where the buffalo roam and the deer and the antelope play? On a farm … a REAL farm.

Well, it all began a few weeks ago when I innocently visited my pew buddies at church. I was invited to tend to their tomato plants while they were on vacation for a week and I gladly accepted.

They went on to explain that the tomato plants were on their farm, soon ready to be picked. I was even encouraged to consider setting up a “‘mater stand” to sell the tomatoes for willing customers as the bounty was soon ready to be harvested.

I remember thinking, “Really, how much effort can tending a couple of tomato plants take? No big deal. Piece of cake!” After all, they were just a couple of tomato plants, right? And this awesome opportunity would get me out of the house!

Wrong! I had forgotten these people are farmers. I mean REAL Indiana farmers! And farmers know how to grow stuff! I mean … really GROW stuff!

In case the plants needed water, I was told there was a “hydrant” out back of the house. Now, a hydrant on a farm is different than a city fire hydrant.

I wasn’t sure how I was going to work a hydrant without the fire department, but I wasn’t worried. Forging on and unbeknownst to me, this farm had much more to give than I could ever anticipate.

I arrived at my friend’s farm “out in the sticks,” an area near town. Right off, I experienced the childhood sound of driving slowly over a crunchy gravel driveway!

I opened the windows in the truck, backed up a bit, and pulled forward again just to hear that long-ago, familiar sound. I recalled my dad backing the DeSoto down the driveway when we arrived home as kids. So relaxing! So “country-fied.” I experienced déjà vu from 65 years ago, and I loved it!

I turned the truck around and pulled over just adjacent to the tomato plants.

Tomato plants? It was more like a tomato forest! Wonderfully green plants, all taller than me, with a carefully placed weed barrier to snuggle their roots.

Eight! Count them! Eight rotund tomato plants jammed packed with red and green orbs just screaming, “Pick me! Pick me!” I grabbed the containers out of the truck and began to pluck … and pluck … and pluck! The little sweat bees became my new friends.

THIS was a real garden, I thought. I wasn’t sure what the secret was, but every piece of fruit was perfectly shaped. No blossom end rot. No blight, no leaf spot, or other woes like my sorrowful tomato plants in my patio pots last year! Poor things!

I rubbed a leaf or two between my fingers … and inhaled! Have you ever done that? Just rub a tomato leaf in your hands to experience the fragrance of God’s work from his garden? I just KNOW there will be tomato plants in Heaven someday!

I noticed a slight sign of the leaves turning up on one of the plants. I think it was starting to call for water. Finding the “hydrant” out back and not sure what to do with it, I decided to wait until the next day then tackle that part of this adventure later.

Oh, the tomatoes? Yeah, I picked what seemed like a hundred or so. I didn’t count, but this first picking served many grateful neighbors and friends. The firefighters at Station No. 5 nearby loved them, too. I even got a call from the Fire Chief in appreciation of the goodies. I picked a green one for myself to fry for one of the best dinners I had in years!

Then I went home, prayed with praise, and did a rain dance for fear of not figuring out that hydrant the next day. Sure enough, it rained steadily for three days, providing a couple inches of “natural hydration.” Thank you, God!

So, the next trip, I offered to take my two granddaughters along to the “tomato farm”. They were so excited! I was sure to call their eager attention to the crunchy driveway when we arrived. Each of them, smiling with joy, was charged with picking from four plants with four separate large trays and extra bags. They learned about the sweat bees and the fragrance of the tomato leaves and left behind small painted rocks as a thank you decoration. But then it happened.

The girls stopped and stood among the plants, saying, “It’s really quiet here!” As they continued to harvest, I wondered how many children have never truly experienced the peacefulness and quiet of a country garden. We stood in the stillness for several more minutes.

Ultimately, in one week, the tomato plants fed two firehouses, church friends, a food pantry (with help from another faithful worker) and six households. I am grateful for the farmer families, this wonderful opportunity, and for these country-fied tomatoes! More than just a harvest, it is fruitfulness for the heart and soul.

“You shall observe the Festival of Harvest, of the first fruits of your labor, of what you sow in the field.” Exodus 23:16

Be sure to watch Paul Harvey: “So God Made a Farmer.” (It’s less than two minutes.) See it on YouTube at tinyurl.com/SoGodMadeAFarmer.

Rev. Bonnie Zickgraf is a retired pastor, registered nurse, electroplater, and podcaster. She continues to serve various preschool, youth, and adult ministries, including the Nurses’ Honor Guard for the State of Indiana. She loves to laugh, write, eat, and pray! Send comments to bonniezickgraf@gmail.com.