And I thought a mudlark was a bird....

[Bbbananas]

Arthur has just regaled us with the tale of waste disposal in the olden days (as in sewage & human waste). Before the days of plumbing & flush toilets, the waste from whatever hole it was evacuated into, was emptied once a week. This waste was then spread on riverbanks. People used to scavenge for all sorts among the waste - but his father used to grow tomato plants from the seeds that had sprouted after being passed through humans undigested. The biggest & tastiest tomatoes in Hull, according to Arthur.

And all this whilst we were tucking into our side salads.
Nice.

[sqad617]

salla...Google the song "Lollipop, lolipop"

[hailthechimp]

Mudlark? Is'nt that what they do at the Glastonbury festival? Or would that be larkinginthemud?

[Bbbananas]

as in Mika's lollipop lollipop?

[Bbbananas]

I know which one I'd prefer to do chimp.
Fair put me off organic tomatoes, that story has.

[sqad617]

salla
http://search3.incredimail.com/?q=lollipop..th e+mudlarks&source=001105029051017&lang=english

[hailthechimp]

Salla,just out of interest,were these tomatos red or brown?

[mrs_overall]

Hang on....have you seen the size of tomato seeds? They're microscopic! It must have taken hours sifting through tons of muck to spot one. Ewwww!

reaches for the sick bucket

[Bbbananas]

I presumed green - but I should know never to presume anything with my family.

[Bbbananas]

I think they waited a little while until the seeds had sprouted mrs_o !!!!! Then just pulled up the seedlings. LOL - I am just picturing your face!

[hailthechimp]

Did they temporarily rename them Poomatos?

[Bbbananas]

I dread to think what they called them. Beefsteak probably - a strange breed are Hull folk.

[natalie_1982]

They used to scavenge all sorts amongst the waste? Like what exactly?

Surely if the poor bleeder couldn't afford a proper toilet, and squatted over a hole, they wouldn't have had much in their remnants of much worth?

[natalie_1982]

My manager just got back from a conference in Hull. He said their community warden scheme is fantastic, I shall ask if tomato growing was on the agenda