My Uncle Jackie and Aunt Gwen had a farm in the Florida panhandle where they grew cotton, peanuts and sugar cane. Each summer we would make the long journey and spend a week on the farm. They were mostly self sufficient as was the case of many farmers back then. They had a Jersey cow for milk, cream and butter, a hog that was butchered in the fall and a garden that provided fresh vegetables. Other items were purchased at the market or obtained by trade with other farmers.
Despite the fact that Gwen was severly crippled by a virulent form of arthritis, she did all the normal chores of a farm wife including cooking a huge midday meal for all the farm hands. The table would literally groan under the weight of the fried chicken, fresh green beans, mashed potatoes smothered in milk gravy. There was always a large batch of fresh butter for the mountains of hot biscuits.
Her kitchen was her workplace and I remember with fondness her Daisy butter churn. These were tabletop models and Aunt Gwen would sit at the table watching Jackie in the field, churning her butter. These churns have become desirable collectibles and I’m constantly on the lookout for one on Ebay or estate sales. No luck yet. The prices are pretty sky high.
