In the 60's the intersection of Goodlette Road and Pine Ridge Road was out in the sticks. The N/E corner, in particular, was a barren field bordered by the roadroad track. Luscious, red tomatoes, however, grew there. And, until the tourists came down each year and picked them, there was a bountiful supply. Why? Because the locals wouldn't touch them.
Back then most folks had some kind of septic system. Septic tanks eventually have to be pumped and this was done by what we called the honey dippers. The honey dipper would pump the sludge into the giant tank on his truck and, when it was full, take it to a remote area and dump it. Not all those environmental regulations to worry about then. Just find a remote spot and turn on the empty valve. They did rotate spots, giving one a chance to dry up before they reused it.
That corner on Pine Ridge and Goodlette was such a place. But why did they dump it in a tomato field? Didn't, it was just the opposite. Seems a tomato seed will survive the rigors of passing through the human disposal system. So the honey dippers, in effect, were planting tomato seeds in very rich fertilizer. And a bumper crop always ensued.
Locals never let out the secret about the tomatoes because it was too much fun to watch the tourists going after those dung patch love apples.
Naples was a sleepy little town then, but you have to admit it was a front runner in recycling and organic gardening. And that wasn't the only example of early recycling. The Moorings/Coquina Sands area was once the City Dump. At the time, the city cops found a body there that was never identified. So, must've been a graveyard, too.
Back then most folks had some kind of septic system. Septic tanks eventually have to be pumped and this was done by what we called the honey dippers. The honey dipper would pump the sludge into the giant tank on his truck and, when it was full, take it to a remote area and dump it. Not all those environmental regulations to worry about then. Just find a remote spot and turn on the empty valve. They did rotate spots, giving one a chance to dry up before they reused it.
That corner on Pine Ridge and Goodlette was such a place. But why did they dump it in a tomato field? Didn't, it was just the opposite. Seems a tomato seed will survive the rigors of passing through the human disposal system. So the honey dippers, in effect, were planting tomato seeds in very rich fertilizer. And a bumper crop always ensued.
Locals never let out the secret about the tomatoes because it was too much fun to watch the tourists going after those dung patch love apples.
Naples was a sleepy little town then, but you have to admit it was a front runner in recycling and organic gardening. And that wasn't the only example of early recycling. The Moorings/Coquina Sands area was once the City Dump. At the time, the city cops found a body there that was never identified. So, must've been a graveyard, too.
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