Former Things

[Vernon Holt]

I have a fireplace, but don't often build a fire. Christmas day is always an exception. While sitting before the fire eating an apple, I was about to throw the apple core into the fire when I suddenly had a flashback.

I recalled during my early childhood sitting before the open fire and tossing uneaten bits of food in the fire. I was immediately and strongly chastised by both parents for such a thoughtless act as to burn food that could be eaten by some living creature. I was exhorted never to burn even bits of food.

This seemed to be a carry over from a principle which was instilled into my parents from their parents. Food was never to be wasted in any manner. Tossing food into a consuming fire was treated as though there were a Biblical Prohibition.

Is it any wonder that today I am a Conservative, politically and otherwise??

Consider this approach to life with the lifestyle of today. Children simply pick at their food today and most is cast away.

Anyone else ever encounter such a philosophy??

[Nicodemus]

We had about the same philosophy Mr. Vernon. And you better not ever spit in the fire either. Seems my Grandfathers folks would pack their cured hams in wooden boxes full of clean wood ashes. I wish I knew the procedure that they went by to do that, but I waited to late to ask.

[CAL]

Yes Mr.Vernon,my Daddy had a story where as a young boy he threw part of a biscuit into the fire and his Grandfather shamed him so bad he said he never wasted any food again.This philosophy was instilled into me and today I consider it a sin to throw away something that another animal or bird could eat.Any food items we have to dispose of is put outside for the animals or birds!

[Uncle Joe]

If I had a dime for every time my parents told me about the starving kids in China, told me to turn off the lights " I don't own stock in the power company". or close the door I ain't payin to heat the neighborhood. we could all retire quite comfortably. The same things drive me crazy today.

[slightly grayling]

It was pretty much the same in my home. I think it is a good standard that was influenced by both parents growing up in rural Georgia post-depression. My grandparents took it to an extreem. Not only with food, but everything....when my grandfather died, my mother and her siblings went through storage sheds (I think 4) throwing away bags of old worn out clothing (even old socks w/holes) and bits of string and such. In my mind this isn't a testiment to excentricities, but one of the deep impact hard times made on a couple with six children in rural Georgia. Of the six, each had the opportunity to attend college, all but two graduated, and my grandfather died a millionaire.....but never changed his frugal lifestyle.
-SG

[danmc]

I think butchering chickens when I was a kid underscored that you shouldn't waste food. Makes the connection that something died for you to eat. Oh yeah, and working hard in the garden also reminds you of not wanting to waste food.

My grandfather also held onto lots of stuff. He worked hard his whole life and knew he couldn't afford to waste things. Nature vs nurture? I don't know, but my brother and I both ended up with that lifestyle too. "Wait, I might need that someday".

-Dan

[RJY66]

We did not have a fireplace, but my folks, Dad especially, taught me not to waste food. As far as hunting went, he was always taught by Grandaddy that he had to eat anything he killed, snakes and varmints excepted.

Once when Daddy was a youngster, he got a new 22 rifle and as he put it, he was a good shot. He went around shooting everthing that moved. He went out one day and shot up a bunch of robins. Grandaddy asked him "what are you gonna do with em?" Dad says "Don't know". Grandaddy says "I'll tell you what you are gonna do...clean em and take em in to your mama and tell her to cook em for ya...you are gonna eat em!" I know my Grandma had to be thrilled about that, but she cooked em and Daddy ate em!

Anyway, Dad learned not to be an out of control killer and waster of things, and I learned the lesson second hand by hearing the story.

[Vapor 300]

I have to said that was something you did not do in our house . My father would start on how he worked every day to put the food on our table and he said if you take it you eat it . I can remember my grandpa telling story about my great granddad shooting squirrels in the eyes not to hurt any of the meat . I also remember my grandfather getting on me about shooting my 410 from the hip like the rifleman and that I had torn up the rabbit I was shooting . Thing back then were different .

[Pro40Dually]

Then your garbage can must be very empty if you are complying with that scenario. (a good thing) Nothing edible should be in that can then, right?