Two elderly men were discussing the lack of standing for something today, and one of them quoted an old staying, “There’s nothing in the middle of the road but a yellow line and dead possums,” if that is the case, then the yellow lines and dead possums must be growing. To take a stand today on moral issues based upon “right” and “wrong” is to immediately become unpopular. Our entire population, at least at times, seems to be searching for “middle ground,” and as a result few are standing for anything.

Pole bean need to be staked. We’re growing two varieties this year, Kentucky Wonder and the Purple Variety that Ed and Margaret gave us many years ago. I like picking pole beans because I don’t like the bending over that bush beans require.

Along the garden’s deer fence is a good place to grow them. We lean sticks up against the fence and the plants quickly send up their runners. It amazes me how a climbing plant sends out tendrils and knows where to go, and how quickly they find the poles. By the time we finish staking the row, the first plants are already wrapping around the stakes.

We use two kinds of stakes. Eight foot long poles that are an inch by an inch are all the beans need to grow on. A local sawmill cut them for us, out of ash lumber. Poplar or soft maple won’t last as long as ash or oak.

An Old Danish proverb says: “It’s no disgrace to be poor, but it can be inconvenient.” I’m sure many could testify to the validity of this proverb. It’s never convenient to sit in a house where the electricity has been cut off for lack of payment. Things become so inconvenient. While the top dogs enjoy all the convenience made possible by a good income, the underdogs suffer the inconvenience of poverty. Incidentally, some of us may be in darkness before we know it. Electric bills don’t just go up once a year. Thanks to the mismanagement of TVA, they are increased quarterly.

Summertime in Tennessee brings forth the favorite fruits of the earth. Tomatoes and swee corn quickly follow on the heels of beans, squash and cucumbers, and the melons are swelling. So what am I doing out in the garden with lettuce and cabbage seed?

We are planting the fall garden, now, during the middle of the summer harvesting. the tiny seedlings will be ready to transplant in mid-August, to make their heads in September, October and November. To harvest then, we plant now.

Here is a proverb on wisdom: “He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it…” (Ecclesiastes 10:8). Digging a pit is hard, but falling into it and getting out is even more difficult. The wrong act leads to trouble. One may dig a pit to ensnare another, but he may very well fall into it himself.