I FOLDED THE PILE of pea pods into the front of my Minnesota-themed tee, the one with two grain bin graphics. It seemed appropriate for the vegetable gathered from the Friends of Buckham Memorial Library Organic Learning Garden. Harvest of grain. Harvest of vegetables.
I hadn’t expected to pick peas when Randy and I stopped at our local library Saturday afternoon en route to the grocery store for meat to grill. But when we pulled into the parking lot, I decided to check out the garden while Randy looked for videos.
To my surprise, I found pea plants heavy with plump pea pods. I felt giddy. Garden fresh peas have always been a favorite. But it’s been a long time since I’ve had them.
I hold fond memories of picking and shelling peas from my childhood garden. I loved running my thumb down the seam of the pod, opening the shell to reveal a row of tiny green orbs. So perfect. And then I slid my thumb down that tidy row, peas dropping one by one into a metal pan. Plunk, plunk, plunk, plunk, plunk. There’s a certain satisfaction in the rhythmic process of shelling peas.
Once home, as I shelled those peas carried in my t-shirt to the van, I thought of all those summers back on the farm. I never realized then how lucky I was to eat mostly food grown or raised on our acreage. It was simply what everyone did in rural Minnesota. Planted a garden. Raised beef cattle, pigs and/or chickens.
That evening as we sat down to a grilled pork chop supper (not dinner) with sides of potatoes and peas, I dipped my spoon into those fresh peas covered with butter. I tasted the sun and sky and earth. But mostly, I tasted memories. Garden memories.
© Copyright 2023 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I love shell peas and they’re so hard to find! Everyone grows snap peas, which, did you know were invented in the 1970’s so they’re a rather new vegetable. Every year I have to look up how to call shell peas, because most people don’t know or grow them anymore probably because they’re more work, both harvesting and cooking.
The thought didn’t cross my mind that these could be snap peas that I picked. I assumed, still do, that they were shell peas.
Oh yes! I remember shelling those peas in my childhood. Nothing quite like fresh peas out of the garden. Yum.
Glad you share the same fond memories of garden fresh peas.
what a wonderful treat!
Yes, they were. And I’ll finish them at supper this evening.
You reminded me that fresh peas from the garden are heavenly! If anyone says they don’t like peas, I ask if they have ever had fresh garden peas. No is usually the answer. I have pea pods in my garden. Sometimes I let them go so they mature into shelled peas. But, I’m rethinking this. Maybe next year I’ll plant traditional peas.
Nothing like garden fresh peas or tomatoes or most any vegetable.
As soon as I saw the picture of the plump peapods, my mind traveled right back to the farm, like yours did. Love the post.
Happy to take you back to your Steele County childhood farm today.
Yum! And, yes, “supper (not dinner)” . . . I’ve been a city slicker for decades, but I sometimes slip up, resulting in raised eyebrows and quizzical looks!
I still have to clarify with my adult kids, especially, on whether they mean a noon or evening meal. “Supper” is not in their city vocabulary either.
Since my wife is British (I’m American), I have become familiar with a variant well known in England as Mushy Peas. You might like to try it. More here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mushy_peas
“Mushy peas” don’t sound appealing to me. But, hey, if they taste anything like garden fresh peas, I’m in.
I’m not so much a fan of fresh peas, perhaps because I ate too many fresh ones straight from the vine as a kid… But last night, we had a wonderful supper of pork chops roasted with our garden fresh green beans and apples, with a side of mashed potatoes and gravy. So yummy and satisfying to have fresh garden produce in a meal.
Oh, Rose, your supper sounds delicious. I would have loved to have been at your table.
Oh, what a wonderful visual you provided in this piece! Peas are not my “favorite” but the memories of picking , shelling, and storing them are fresh in my mind when reading your experiences. I have a few in my garden this year but the slugs seem to love everything I have planted including my peas! Enjoy the moments.
Drat those slugs. That must be frustrating. Happy to have taken you back to memories.