One of my neighbors in Nowhere, MN is a die-hard tomato person. Her garden is just up the road a bit from our home there and it is a sight to behold (walleye fish guts may be her secret weapon).
She grows heirloom tomatoes (that her father developed for that harsh and short growing season up there) and has been quite generous with me and my family (it helps that I have gifted her with a bit of elk meat to try as well). Meals made with these "real" tomatoes versus the ones available at the grocery stores are infinitely better IMHO (If you have any question as to why these tomatoes may be better, look up the subject on Youtube and educate yourself just a bit).
This spring, my wife and I went the extra distance in an effort to grow some of these more "exotic" tomato variants ourselves, such as the Black Crim, the Cherokee Purple and the Brandywine. The fruits of our labors then are being fully enjoyed now and we couldn't be more pleased with the results. By leaving shortly for the North Country, I'll be missing out a bit here but wow, just wow.
A good Caprese salad before a grouse meal is simply a wonderful treat. Even a BLT becomes something exotic when using one of these "real" tomatoes. Lycopenes are a wonderful addition to your diet, and in so-many ways.
Learning is growing and this is a good area to "grow" in. Find out what you have been missing-out on for all these years.
Last edited by Lloyd3; 08/25/25 01:11 PM.
