Hunting and Gathering on the North Shore

As you might expect, even in Florida, the pickin’s were slim in the winter. As hunters and gatherers, if we were really hard up during a Florida winter season, we would sample the “sour grass” that grew wild in our yards. Or, there was always a Palmetto bush at hand with new frond growth in the middle that could be pulled out and chewed on at the bottom where the emerging frond was still white and relatively tender. In the days before Euell Theophilus Gibbons, that was about it. Of course, we were in school – or at church – during most of that time, anyway.

As spring arrived in March or so, the pickin’s got better.

Many of my friends had yards that included things that could be hunted or gathered. And, of course, there were the yards of neighbors where the “hunting” might be off-limits, but the gathering part was condoned.

Our yard was not very promising when it came to hunting or gathering. During World War II we joined millions of other Americans in planting a Victory Garden. Our garden, however, could not be called a Victory.

The thin, sandy, white Florida soil (originally a seabed) simply would not support much in the way of garden vegetables. Interestingly, on the other side of town, and a neighborhood known as Woodstock Park, where my grandparents lived, the soil was very rich by comparison. For many years they grew most of their own vegetables in their large garden. Our skinny corn looked like Jennie Craig was the gardener.

About the only thing besides sour grass that we could eat in our yard was a few kumquats that grew on a scrawny little tree my dad planted out behind the garage.

If we wanted something more to eat that originated with Mother Nature we hunters had to venture a little farther beyond our man caves; in other words, across the street or down the street. We were Trekkies, long before Shatner and Nimoy. Such demanding treks in search of food required, well, food – or at least enough provisions to ensure we survived the grueling ordeal that lay ahead.

© Tracy D. Connors 2015 All Rights Reserved

About Tracy Connors

Tracy D. Connors graduated from Jacksonville University (AA), University of Florida (BA), the University of Rhode Island (MA), and Capella University (Ph.D. with Distinction, human services management, 2013). Ph.D. (Honorary), Leadership Excellence, Jacksonville University, December, 2013. Designated a "Distinguished Dolphin" by Jacksonville University, Feb. 2, 2010.

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