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The Kerby's Nursery E-Newsletter
January 6, 2022
Peas of Good Luck
by Joey Bokor
by Joey Bokor
For our family, the start of the new year is not complete without some staple good-luck foods. Our tradition is ham, black-eyed peas, and collard greens. There isn't a New Year's Day in recent memory where we didn't cook some combination of these three staples.
Until recently, I hadn't thought much about why these three tasty items are common for New Year's Day meals, and it turns out that there is a little tradition behind each one. The peas and the greens represent financial good luck, with the peas representing coins and the greens representing the green of money. Pretty cool, but I like the reason for the pork tradition better. Apparently, pork is favored on New Year's Day, because pigs eat and root moving forward, whereas chickens are always kicking dirt behind them. Somehow that observation led to the tradition of avoiding chicken because it represents looking at the past and eating pork, because it represents moving forward and looking to the future. Interestingly, avoiding eating beef (cows eat standing still) and crab (they move sideways) are also part of the tradition of eating pork. True or not, I'm going to stick to our New Year's tradition. Not only is it tasty, but I am happy to have a little extra luck in any way that I can find it.
What are some of your New Year's Day food traditions? In doing a quick search, I saw references to eating cornbread, sauerkraut, grapes, raisins, and pomegranates as a few good luck traditions. I hope that whatever your traditions are, that they bring you good luck, good health, and a prosperous year.
Speaking of luck, how lucky are we to live in Florida! Monday was a little cold and breezy, but every day since has been a postcard weather day. Definitely the reason we live here. I'm sure you are taking advantage of the wonderful weather and having some fun in your garden. We're doing the same, and when we aren't tending our plants, we're busy planning our 2022 events for the spring season. It's going to be a great year, I can already feel it.
Until recently, I hadn't thought much about why these three tasty items are common for New Year's Day meals, and it turns out that there is a little tradition behind each one. The peas and the greens represent financial good luck, with the peas representing coins and the greens representing the green of money. Pretty cool, but I like the reason for the pork tradition better. Apparently, pork is favored on New Year's Day, because pigs eat and root moving forward, whereas chickens are always kicking dirt behind them. Somehow that observation led to the tradition of avoiding chicken because it represents looking at the past and eating pork, because it represents moving forward and looking to the future. Interestingly, avoiding eating beef (cows eat standing still) and crab (they move sideways) are also part of the tradition of eating pork. True or not, I'm going to stick to our New Year's tradition. Not only is it tasty, but I am happy to have a little extra luck in any way that I can find it.
What are some of your New Year's Day food traditions? In doing a quick search, I saw references to eating cornbread, sauerkraut, grapes, raisins, and pomegranates as a few good luck traditions. I hope that whatever your traditions are, that they bring you good luck, good health, and a prosperous year.
Speaking of luck, how lucky are we to live in Florida! Monday was a little cold and breezy, but every day since has been a postcard weather day. Definitely the reason we live here. I'm sure you are taking advantage of the wonderful weather and having some fun in your garden. We're doing the same, and when we aren't tending our plants, we're busy planning our 2022 events for the spring season. It's going to be a great year, I can already feel it.
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Happy Gardening, The Kerby's Nursery Family 
p.s. We are actively hiring for our spring season. Plant knowledge is a bonus, but not required. What is important
is that you love talking to people and want to help spread Kerby's values of success, beauty, honesty, happiness, and fun.
Click here to learn more.
p.p.s. Speaking of food traditions, some of you asked for the meatball recipe that we used for our Christmas meatballs. So here it is. I will warn you that most of our measurements are more listening to the whispers of our ancestors than actually measuring. Fortunately, with a mix of such yummy ingredients, it is hard to go wrong. 
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With
the dawn of a new year, I'll bet you are making some resolutions.
Maybe you want to eat
better, be healthier and get into shape. Or, maybe you want to spend more time with family
and less time staring at a screen. I know I want to find more time
to relax and to reduce the stress in my life. Well, we've
got good news for you. You don't need to sign up for a gym or do
anything crazy to make these resolutions happen. You can find all of
them in the garden.
Get in Shape - There is nothing like digging holes or transporting and turning
soil to get you into shape. It builds muscle and if you really get to digging, you can turn it into
an aerobic activity.
Eat Healthier - You've transported and turned the soil, now plant some fresh veggies and herbs in those new planting beds. Fresh spinach and lettuce, tomatoes and peppers, greens and broccoli, whatever suits your taste, plant it. Change your eating habits with fresh, healthy food right from your backyard.
Less Screen Time and More Family Time - If you or the kids need to put the devices down and do something together, there is no better place than the garden. Plant a veggie garden together and you can share the fruits of your labors. And then, plant a butterfly garden together. Once it is planted, sit together and instead of watching the latest streaming show, watch the flying miracles of nature dance among your flowers.
Nurture your Spirit and Destress - Fresh soil on your fingers is an amazing way to unwind and allow the stress of the day to just wash away into the ground. I know for me there is something about the blooms in the garden, fruit on my trees and even something as simple as seedlings emerging that lets me recharge my batteries and gain some perspective on the world around me.
Whatever you do, resolve to have a great 2022. We look forward to sharing it with you.
Eat Healthier - You've transported and turned the soil, now plant some fresh veggies and herbs in those new planting beds. Fresh spinach and lettuce, tomatoes and peppers, greens and broccoli, whatever suits your taste, plant it. Change your eating habits with fresh, healthy food right from your backyard.
Less Screen Time and More Family Time - If you or the kids need to put the devices down and do something together, there is no better place than the garden. Plant a veggie garden together and you can share the fruits of your labors. And then, plant a butterfly garden together. Once it is planted, sit together and instead of watching the latest streaming show, watch the flying miracles of nature dance among your flowers.
Nurture your Spirit and Destress - Fresh soil on your fingers is an amazing way to unwind and allow the stress of the day to just wash away into the ground. I know for me there is something about the blooms in the garden, fruit on my trees and even something as simple as seedlings emerging that lets me recharge my batteries and gain some perspective on the world around me.
Whatever you do, resolve to have a great 2022. We look forward to sharing it with you.
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New Arrivals |
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Supertunia Bubblegum Pink for Days 6" Pot - $7.99 |
Floriglory Cuphea Great for Butterflies and Pollinators 6" Pot - $7.99 |
Fortuniana Grafted Roses New Crop Just In 10" Pot - $42.00 |
The Kerby's Houseplant Shop
