Bethune Catholic

We started harvesting our 4 acres of peanuts last week. We have a long way to go. Rain this week delayed progress. Some of the peanuts are not ready yet, but others have begun sprouting prematurely due to the excessive rain (finally) we've had the past few weeks.

The whole family participates. Some of us dig the peanuts with pitchforks, lifting the plants out of the ground and shaking the dirt. Others follow behind to find any peanuts left in the sand. Still others gather the plants and bunch them in groups of 10 plants, while another binds the bunches for hanging. Near the end of the session, we load them into the truck and bring them to wherever we are going to hang them for drying.

The plants dry for 2-4 weeks and then the peanuts are separated from the hay.

There's much work to be done. We still have to winterize the barn, fence two new areas for the Jersey cows (one is due to calf in a few weeks). With all the rain we've had, the fall garden is looking pretty good with broccoli, rutabagas, radishes, collards, mustard greens, turnips, and carrots.

Now back to work. Oremus pro invicem!