Mississippi Family Plants Vegetable Farm, Gives Half To People On Fixed Income

Mississippi Family Plants Vegetable Farm, Gives Half To People On Fixed Income

September 6, 2018

A family in Nettleton, Mississippi uses three acres of their 32-acre farm to plant peas for the public.

Credit: Adam Robison / Daily Journal

Mitch and Ann Smith have been allowing people to pick their own peas for the past 10 years.

“We started it for older people so they could come and pick their own,” Mitch told the Daily Journal. “They come out here and say, ‘I remember picking peas as a kid.’ Not many people do this anymore, but I kind of feel like it’s coming back.”

The Smiths sell their peas and they also allow customers to pick their own, free of charge.

“The public comes to pick and they get half of what they pick and I get half and they don’t pay anything,” Mitch said. “That works good for people on a fixed income. We try to plant five rows and skip two rows so the older people can pick on the outside.”

“Last year, we had some ladies come to pick who were on canes,” Ann said. “We have people 85 years old out here picking.”

In the past week, people have picked 263 bushels of peas out of the Smiths’ fields and they’re still picking.

The Smiths also plant a couple acres of corn, turnip and mustard greens.

“It’s amazing what you can do on a small plot,” Mitch said.

“We have people come and bring their grandchildren to the fields with them. They’ll be laughing and singing. We build relationships with people. It’s very rewarding.”