2004-10-11 - 9:24 p.m.
We ended muscadine picking today. I always have some folks who keep showing up to pick and this usually continues for a week or so. I'll tell them were done with muscadines and I get the same question from each of them, "Are you sure there aren't some left?". This usually is followed by a plea to let them look and try to find some. I always give in and off they'll go digging through the vines hunting for any missed grapes. After a good while out they come with a few precious pounds of grapes.
I truly believe muscadines are addictive. When I tell folks there gone all the symptoms of withdrawl begin and a mix of sadness and panic comes over the customer. When I let them look and they find a few, great peace returns to them. It's the only explaination I have for the amount of time and effort they'll put in to find those few last grapes.
Actually, I understand the feeling. To put off my own withdrawl symptoms I always keep folks from picking a few vines way back in the orchard. I tell folks they can't pick them and I jealously guard them for myself. So we wind up with a few extra weeks of muscadines. I can almost hear some of you saying, "Hey, that's not fair!". Well, maybe it's not but they're my grapes and I'm an addict too. Addicts are always selfish. What can I say? If you want them longer, grow your own.
