Picking Butterbeans

This has been a hot, dry summer and the first year we have watered our garden. It has been a pretty one. My grandmother used to say, a dry June means a wet July. It seems that old saying is true because we have had a lot more rain this month.

Being that we were so busy canning string beans, we didn't know the butterbeans were maturing faster than we thought and they were getting grassy. We noticed all the vines were hanging full of beans that needed to be picked. After trying to pull grass and pick beans too, we realized it would be impossible for us to pick all those butterbeans before the grass took over.

Instead of picking them off the vines in the garden, we decided it would be best to pull the vines up and pick the butterbeans off in the shade. Over a period of two days, we dragged them to the house in our baby pool.

Picking butterbeans, while sitting in the shade of the pecan tree, was so much easier and actually relaxing and fun. We had plenty for ourselves and a lot to share. After we were finished shelling, we gave the vines and hulls to a friend that has goats.

We won't have any more fresh butterbeans and there won't be a second crop but that's OK with me. This old body has had about enough of gardening in this hot and humid weather. We have planted peas in that spot. They will be ready to pick in the fall when it turns cool.