I wasn’t surprised when our newly found German relatives mentioned they were busy with gardening. Gardening has been a Robl family activity for as long as I can remember. Grandma and Grandpa had a large vegetable garden on the property where Rickels built a house. I remember how upset they were to lose that garden plot. Later they moved their garden to the field where the ball diamond now is located. Seventh Street was a dead-end street in those days, and they walked the short distance to tend the garden. It must have been public property where people were allowed to plant. My Dad (Uncle Ray) had a plot there too, and he used to carry me on his shoulders to the garden. With building of the ball diamond and opening of 7th street, the family lost another garden plot. After that, almost the entire back yard on 7th street became a flower and vegetable garden. They had a chicken coop, an out house, and a garage in the back yard. A wooden sidewalk led from the back door to these buildings. Grandma and Grandpa passed the gardening tradition on to each of their children. Aunt Mary had a big garden, first at her house on Knapp Street and later on 9th street. I remember picking strawberries with her, and her eagle eyes spotted the berries I missed. Her long arm would reach across the row as she pointed out what I had failed to pick. In the seventies, after we purchased our house near Rosendale, Aunt Dolly, Aunt Margaret, Uncle Mel, and my Mother (Aunt Bar) planted a huge garden on our property. The neighbors were impressed by the neat and weedless rows, something they accomplished, not us. It was a pleasure to have them come out on summer evenings to tend the garden, then stop in for a really, really cold beer and a game of Pollyanna or Yahtzee. We learned a lot from them: how to get rid of every weed, how to make sauerkraut and wine, and most important to share the bounty from the garden with relatives and friends. The attached photo says, “Mother and Dad caught unexpected, June 3rd, 44." I think the handwriting is Aunt Dolly’s. Kathy
Sunday, November 1, 2009
The Gardening Robls
I wasn’t surprised when our newly found German relatives mentioned they were busy with gardening. Gardening has been a Robl family activity for as long as I can remember. Grandma and Grandpa had a large vegetable garden on the property where Rickels built a house. I remember how upset they were to lose that garden plot. Later they moved their garden to the field where the ball diamond now is located. Seventh Street was a dead-end street in those days, and they walked the short distance to tend the garden. It must have been public property where people were allowed to plant. My Dad (Uncle Ray) had a plot there too, and he used to carry me on his shoulders to the garden. With building of the ball diamond and opening of 7th street, the family lost another garden plot. After that, almost the entire back yard on 7th street became a flower and vegetable garden. They had a chicken coop, an out house, and a garage in the back yard. A wooden sidewalk led from the back door to these buildings. Grandma and Grandpa passed the gardening tradition on to each of their children. Aunt Mary had a big garden, first at her house on Knapp Street and later on 9th street. I remember picking strawberries with her, and her eagle eyes spotted the berries I missed. Her long arm would reach across the row as she pointed out what I had failed to pick. In the seventies, after we purchased our house near Rosendale, Aunt Dolly, Aunt Margaret, Uncle Mel, and my Mother (Aunt Bar) planted a huge garden on our property. The neighbors were impressed by the neat and weedless rows, something they accomplished, not us. It was a pleasure to have them come out on summer evenings to tend the garden, then stop in for a really, really cold beer and a game of Pollyanna or Yahtzee. We learned a lot from them: how to get rid of every weed, how to make sauerkraut and wine, and most important to share the bounty from the garden with relatives and friends. The attached photo says, “Mother and Dad caught unexpected, June 3rd, 44." I think the handwriting is Aunt Dolly’s. Kathy
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I remember Grandma and her garden. It was so important to her. The flower garden in the back yard was always well tended. There were lots of gladiolas. She loved gladiolas.
ReplyDeleteThe vegetable garden was way out in the field. Their home, also our home, was the last house on the street. The street ended right there. They had quite a trek to get out there to tend the vegetables. Our dad, Ray, also got involved in the gardening. If I remember correctly, their garden was the only one out there. I don't know who owned the land, or how they got permission to use it.
I also remember one pig. That is not such a fond memory. Their methods of slaughter were somewhat primitive, and I didn't want the pig to be slaughtered anyway. That's how it was in those days; living off the land; doing the best they could from the best they knew. I believe there were other pigs who met that fate as well.
I think of Grandpa exploring a new life in a new world. That was particularly brave in those days. It was not so easy. He came to find a way to make a life for him and Kahti and their children. Then he sent for them. They left a lot behind, both good and bad. They accomplished a lot here.
By the way, I don't know how to spell Kahti, so I spelled it phonetically. That is not the correct spelling and that is what he called Grandma.It was a very sweet and loving nickname.
Jeri
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ReplyDeleteI remember that Grandpa called Grandpa by that nickname, but I spelled it "Kottie." Kathy
ReplyDeletewhoops, I shouldn't do this with one hand while talking with Jeri on the phone. It was Grandpa that called Grandma by that name. Kathy
ReplyDelete