Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Would ya...

Short background: My dad, who passed away Oct 2020, loved gardening, especially growing vegetables. His favorite things were radishes, both daikon and black radishes (the latter being very difficult to find in most markets).

So when the time came to choose a headstone, we went with one that had a little planter in front so we could honor him by growing things. A few months ago, the headstone was unveiled and after the ceremony I filled up the planter section with planting mix and put in some seeds. The planter part is open at the bottom, so technically anything you plant in there could grow down towards the casket, but the casket is not only six feet deep, it's covered with concrete slabs and then dirt.

Ok, so the would ya part...

When I was back in CA visiting a few weeks ago I saw that the daikons had really grown like crazy and I harvested a few to bring over to my grandparents' headstones (my dad got his love of radishes from his parents). I was tempted to just take a bite of the daikon to see if it was legit, but my sister yelled at me that it's disgusting and I could be eating something grown in dead humans.

Today, my brother is in CA and visited the cemetery. Turns out that the black radishes took off as well and he harvested one to take a look (pic below....if you know black radishes, you know this is a pretty nice one). The question is...

Would you ever take a taste of a vegetable grown on top of a grave?

Yes

I eat tomatoes grown in chicken shít

Everywhere was once a grave for somthing or someone.

A lot worse things out there to eat than that.

Did it quite a few times with animal graves under a fruit tree when I was growing up.

The departed are laughing at you!

Yes I would

"The grass is always greener over the septic tank"
Erma Bombeck

Have you heard any complaints from the tenants about you growing vegetables six feet above them? Tell the ones who are doing the complaining to STFU!

Eat on brother, bet your dad would approve.

Thank you, all, for the responses.

My brother did take a bite out of the black radish and said it was really spicy and flavorful. I think my dad's side is really superstitious about anything relating to the dead, but I also know this is exactly what my dad would have wanted and he'd have told us that it's a sin to waste good food. My brother posted pictures on whatever social media site he and the rest of the family use (I think it's Facebook, but I won't touch any of those sites) and the response was epic. Good thing he loves to piss off family....

All the burials are in sealed vaults anyway right?

Around here that $8000 cherry cabinet drops into a gasketed steel box then the soil is replaced.

Different there?

Reminds me of a story about my long departed grandmother. She and my grandpa were big gardeners, managing their own vegetable, flower and berry gardens. One day while she was tending my grandfather's grave, she was overheard talking to my grandfather, remarking about how well his feet grew petunias.

They had an old-school marriage and were close to each other to the end.

To answer your question, I think I'd be a bit weirded out about eating food from over a stranger's grave, but not over my dad's. It's all a mental thing, IMO.

I would in a heartbeat. Dad grew me and I think I turned out allright.

In Alaska, I believe one doesn't even need a casket. And you can bury 'em in your yard. Way it should be- the "permission" that is.

If you ask me (you didn't), locking away all that top of the food chain nutrient is dumb - but dates from past times when disease, contamination, etc was a problem.

I'll be burned and ashes scattered on the surface of this good earth for something to use.

And yes Remson - eat away.

Remsen, consider that.

Why not eat the radish.

Wouldn't be here if you hadn't come out Dads stem and grew in mom.


And I say that as respectfully as that could possibly said.😁

Yes love radishes, My horseradish is almost ready, even though I don't think they are a true radish. Horseradish sauce for the prime rib this Christmas.

Geezus H.!.....Cannibalism on the Campfire!




Kidding aside, tell your sister to relax.
If she knew what has been used to fertilize most of her store bought food, she'd have stopped eating years ago.

Exactly and as you said, there’s a concrete vault over the casket and radish roots would not penetrate 4-6’ of soil. Eat and enjoy.

Exactly right.