PULLING/CUTTING RHUBARB

It is spring time. Today,

I was out "pulling" rhubarb to make a rhubarb pie.

I emphasize the word pulling because the moral of this story is, "Do you pull rhubarb or cut it?"

Years ago, I got a phone call from our local historian Jerry Ladiges. He wanted to know if I would like some rhubarb. He had lots of it growing out in his garden.

I said "sure!". I grabbed my basket, a knife and headed out to Jerry's. He came out in the garden while I was cutting the rhubarb stalks, cutting off the leaves and putting the stalks in my basket.

When Jerry saw me cutting the stalks, he just about had a heart attack.

"No, No, you are suppose to pull the stalks! It is not good for the plant to cut it."

I had never heard that before. I felt terrible and I was embarrassed.

I started pulling the stalks, but that actually felt more damaging to the plant than cutting.

Anyway......I filled my basket with cut and pulled stalks of rhubarb.

As I was leaving, I asked Jerry if he would like a rhubarb pie. He said no, he only liked huckleberry pie.

So, I baked a rhubarb pie,

And a small Huckleberry pie.

Our local historian, Jerry Ladiges is no longer with us, but every spring during rhubarb season, I think of him.