The Okra Monopoly: My brother in law, Kenneth Pounds, who was a University of Texas graduate from Decatur, Wise Country, Texas, related this story to me. He said there happened to be a...

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

My brother in law, Kenneth Pounds, who was a University of Texas graduate from Decatur, Wise Country, Texas, related this story to me. He said there happened to be a farm family there in Wise Country that loved okra. In fact, they loved it to the point they decided to go into the business of growing and selling okra to the local groceries and open-air markets in the area.

To implement their plan and have to an adequate supply of fresh okra, they decided to plant about five or more acres of okra. Everything went well and they got a good crop started. And at the beginning there was a ready acceptance of their fresh okra early in the season. They were correct in assuming other families would also enjoy having this garden-fresh item.

Well, it was not long after they had begun this wholesale operation it became obvious, they had created a problem. If anyone has never grown okra, they may not realize that once it has started growing, the farmer must harvest the okra pods every day, and five acres of okra requires a large work force to just keep up with the rapid growth, not allowing all the pods to reach a stage where they are no longer tender and marketable.

It was not long before the family realized they had a monster crop. They were unable to harvest all the okra pods produced in a timely manner. However, not everything was alarmed! The local birds were delighted with this bonanza. As the larger, tough, and un-marketable okra pods burst open and spilled their seed on the ground, more and more birds would visit daily for a feast.

Now, if that had been the end no one would have noticed. However, the law of unintended consequences had kicked in. Not all the seeds ingested by the avian horde were digested, unfortunately. So, there were seeds of okra scattered all over Wise County and probably even beyond. In every flower bed, garden, even on the Wise Country Court House lawn and flower beds came up volunteer okra plants the next spring! In fact, all over Wise County these okra seed had found a home in the fertile soil and thus arose volunteer okra plants, whether they were welcomed or not! There was a wave of revulsion, city folk were disgusted and irritated at this phenomenon that occurred.

This farm family became infamous having made themselves a hiss and byword in the community for their good intentions which had backfired! So, not only does the world have the saying, “Eighter from Decatur, Country seat of Wise!” but for the local folks there was the okra epidemic! Just Sayin…RJS

Big dog Loc: Bayshore, Long Island, New York

Robert J Samples wrote:

My brother in law, Kenneth Pounds, who was a University of Texas graduate from Decatur, Wise Country, Texas, related this story to me. He said there happened to be a farm family there in Wise Country that loved okra. In fact, they loved it to the point they decided to go into the business of growing and selling okra to the local groceries and open-air markets in the area.

To implement their plan and have to an adequate supply of fresh okra, they decided to plant about five or more acres of okra. Everything went well and they got a good crop started. And at the beginning there was a ready acceptance of their fresh okra early in the season. They were correct in assuming other families would also enjoy having this garden-fresh item.

Well, it was not long after they had begun this wholesale operation it became obvious, they had created a problem. If anyone has never grown okra, they may not realize that once it has started growing, the farmer must harvest the okra pods every day, and five acres of okra requires a large work force to just keep up with the rapid growth, not allowing all the pods to reach a stage where they are no longer tender and marketable.

It was not long before the family realized they had a monster crop. They were unable to harvest all the okra pods produced in a timely manner. However, not everything was alarmed! The local birds were delighted with this bonanza. As the larger, tough, and un-marketable okra pods burst open and spilled their seed on the ground, more and more birds would visit daily for a feast.

Now, if that had been the end no one would have noticed. However, the law of unintended consequences had kicked in. Not all the seeds ingested by the avian horde were digested, unfortunately. So, there were seeds of okra scattered all over Wise County and probably even beyond. In every flower bed, garden, even on the Wise Country Court House lawn and flower beds came up volunteer okra plants the next spring! In fact, all over Wise County these okra seed had found a home in the fertile soil and thus arose volunteer okra plants, whether they were welcomed or not! There was a wave of revulsion, city folk were disgusted and irritated at this phenomenon that occurred.

This farm family became infamous having made themselves a hiss and byword in the community for their good intentions which had backfired! So, not only does the world have the saying, “Eighter from Decatur, Country seat of Wise!” but for the local folks there was the okra epidemic! Just Sayin…RJS

My brother in law, Kenneth Pounds, who was a Unive... (show quote)

I have never in my life heard a story about Okra. However, since I do grow okra in my garden, I can attest to the fact that the pods do need to be picked every day. Therefore I I’ll believe your story RS. Thanks.

DB Ed Loc: Brock, Nebraska southeast ne

Sounds like a noxious weed to me.

Big dog Loc: Bayshore, Long Island, New York

DB Ed wrote:

Sounds like a noxious weed to me.

Stewed tomatoes and okra, GOOD stuff.
Can’t make a good gumbo without okra.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

DB ed: Man, without okra, how would you make GUMBO? There are a lot of benefits from this "noxious weed", it can be fried, stewed, made into pancakes, the list is endless. Just Sayin.., RJS

Fish Dancer Loc: Guntersville, Alabama

Big dog wrote:

Stewed tomatoes and okra, GOOD stuff.
Can’t make a good gumbo without okra.

Well you can make a good gumbo without, it’s just a different gumbo. Lynny hates okra but I like it fried, stewed not so much.

smitty Loc: maine

don't forget pickled okra [with a few cayenne peps]

Fish Dancer Loc: Guntersville, Alabama

smitty wrote:

don't forget pickled okra [with a few cayenne peps]

Now that sounds yummy 😋

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Smitty: Yep! You are absolutely right. I am sure we've missed some other excellent Okra recipes, there may even be Okra candy, I don't know. Yes, I only recently learned about gumbo without okra. I guess that was for the non-Cajun population with no taste!

When I lived in New Orleans, I would be driving back and forth from Texas. When I about half way, I would stop at a cafe outside of Baton Rouge. I would sit at the counter and order coffee. The waitress would look at me and ask, American, or dark roast? I guess she couldn't tell whether I was a native or not. Just sayin...RJS

msmllm Loc: Huntington, WV

Robert J Samples wrote:

My brother in law, Kenneth Pounds, who was a University of Texas graduate from Decatur, Wise Country, Texas, related this story to me. He said there happened to be a farm family there in Wise Country that loved okra. In fact, they loved it to the point they decided to go into the business of growing and selling okra to the local groceries and open-air markets in the area.

To implement their plan and have to an adequate supply of fresh okra, they decided to plant about five or more acres of okra. Everything went well and they got a good crop started. And at the beginning there was a ready acceptance of their fresh okra early in the season. They were correct in assuming other families would also enjoy having this garden-fresh item.

Well, it was not long after they had begun this wholesale operation it became obvious, they had created a problem. If anyone has never grown okra, they may not realize that once it has started growing, the farmer must harvest the okra pods every day, and five acres of okra requires a large work force to just keep up with the rapid growth, not allowing all the pods to reach a stage where they are no longer tender and marketable.

It was not long before the family realized they had a monster crop. They were unable to harvest all the okra pods produced in a timely manner. However, not everything was alarmed! The local birds were delighted with this bonanza. As the larger, tough, and un-marketable okra pods burst open and spilled their seed on the ground, more and more birds would visit daily for a feast.

Now, if that had been the end no one would have noticed. However, the law of unintended consequences had kicked in. Not all the seeds ingested by the avian horde were digested, unfortunately. So, there were seeds of okra scattered all over Wise County and probably even beyond. In every flower bed, garden, even on the Wise Country Court House lawn and flower beds came up volunteer okra plants the next spring! In fact, all over Wise County these okra seed had found a home in the fertile soil and thus arose volunteer okra plants, whether they were welcomed or not! There was a wave of revulsion, city folk were disgusted and irritated at this phenomenon that occurred.

This farm family became infamous having made themselves a hiss and byword in the community for their good intentions which had backfired! So, not only does the world have the saying, “Eighter from Decatur, Country seat of Wise!” but for the local folks there was the okra epidemic! Just Sayin…RJS

My brother in law, Kenneth Pounds, who was a Unive... (show quote)

Love fried Okra

GlsJr40 Loc: Dallas, Tx.

I'm a southerner - grew up in Louisiana. Love okra. Love gumbo with okra (and gumbo w/o okra). I won't touch boiled okra, but a couple pods boiled with fresh beans or peas will make the veg's taste 'more better'. I like pickled okra, but my favorite is fried okra! My mother would chop up one or two green fresh cayenne peppers and mix with the okra when frying it. Our family loved that enhancement, but never knew of any other folks doing it that way. If you like fried okra, you may like to try it with the fresh peppers, but be conservative with the pepper; it adds spice as well as flavor.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Hi: that a great idea! Gonna suggest it to my wife: a lot of people don’t realize all the great food that is in Louisiana! Just sayin...RJS

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

Fried, and spiced properly, okra is quite tasty. Almost gag (and as a child, went through the bowl and picked out the "offenders" !) on it in gumbo....to each, his own.

Big dog Loc: Bayshore, Long Island, New York

FixorFish wrote:

Fried, and spiced properly, okra is quite tasty. Almost gag (and as a child, went through the bowl and picked out the "offenders" !) on it in gumbo....to each, his own.

I’m working the garden right now and am happy to say that my okra is coming up remarkably well, considering the frost we had last weekend.

Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

Robert J Samples wrote:

My brother in law, Kenneth Pounds, who was a University of Texas graduate from Decatur, Wise Country, Texas, related this story to me. He said there happened to be a farm family there in Wise Country that loved okra. In fact, they loved it to the point they decided to go into the business of growing and selling okra to the local groceries and open-air markets in the area.

To implement their plan and have to an adequate supply of fresh okra, they decided to plant about five or more acres of okra. Everything went well and they got a good crop started. And at the beginning there was a ready acceptance of their fresh okra early in the season. They were correct in assuming other families would also enjoy having this garden-fresh item.

Well, it was not long after they had begun this wholesale operation it became obvious, they had created a problem. If anyone has never grown okra, they may not realize that once it has started growing, the farmer must harvest the okra pods every day, and five acres of okra requires a large work force to just keep up with the rapid growth, not allowing all the pods to reach a stage where they are no longer tender and marketable.

It was not long before the family realized they had a monster crop. They were unable to harvest all the okra pods produced in a timely manner. However, not everything was alarmed! The local birds were delighted with this bonanza. As the larger, tough, and un-marketable okra pods burst open and spilled their seed on the ground, more and more birds would visit daily for a feast.

Now, if that had been the end no one would have noticed. However, the law of unintended consequences had kicked in. Not all the seeds ingested by the avian horde were digested, unfortunately. So, there were seeds of okra scattered all over Wise County and probably even beyond. In every flower bed, garden, even on the Wise Country Court House lawn and flower beds came up volunteer okra plants the next spring! In fact, all over Wise County these okra seed had found a home in the fertile soil and thus arose volunteer okra plants, whether they were welcomed or not! There was a wave of revulsion, city folk were disgusted and irritated at this phenomenon that occurred.

This farm family became infamous having made themselves a hiss and byword in the community for their good intentions which had backfired! So, not only does the world have the saying, “Eighter from Decatur, Country seat of Wise!” but for the local folks there was the okra epidemic! Just Sayin…RJS

My brother in law, Kenneth Pounds, who was a Unive... (show quote)

That was so dang funny RJ, LMAO as I type this!