Contributed by Sandra Valdes (savaldes [at] comcast.net) For years I have been hearing from my cousins, the Mobleys, that upon retirement, they would go someplace and live on the land. This was long before our current economy, which may require that we all go someplace to live on the land; and I can truly say that I greeted this plan with a little skepticism—after all, they are basically city people. Now, this family is are making their dreams come true. They have bought a plot of land, and they have named that land Plum Joy Farm. There has been talk of chickens, goats, gardens, fruit orchards, fish ponds and grist mills; but the first operation has been implemented with true genius. Their first project has been the vegetable garden. When talk of the garden came into play, I pictured a few rows of vegetables and a salad on the table every night. This garden has reaped a harvest so bountiful that they could keep Campbell’s Soup in business. The crop is so plentiful that they are considering other business opportunities, such as Internet sales and a booth at the local farmers’ market. When I have conversations with them now, they are busy canning and preserving, and possibly preparing to go to market. They’ve even been asked to do a blog for a seed company! The next project may be goat cheese. Check this page for the recipe for tomato preserves.