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“Good mornin’, Buttermilk — and good mornin’ to all y’all listening under this wide July sky. We’ve had a stretch of beautiful thunderstorms this week — the kind that come on like a hymn, with thunder grumblin’ in the distance and lightning flashin’ like God takin’ photographs. And I’ll tell you, Buttermilk, it carried me straight back to my barefoot summers in Georgia.

I remember sittin’ on the carport, legs dangling off the edge, a wedge of watermelon in hand. I’d watch those storms roll in from the piney hills, all while spittin’ seeds over the railing into Mama’s backyard. Some of those seeds — I promise you — would sprout right there in the dirt. No buryin’, no waterin’, no coaxin’. Just the good red clay of Georgia, a little summer sweat, and the wild hope of childhood.

That’s how easy it was to grow a watermelon back then. Black seeds were little promises — spit ’em out and something might grow. But those white seeds? They never came up. And now, these days, we’ve got watermelons engineered to be seedless — sterile, clean, quiet. No fuss, no magic. Just cold convenience for tidy indoor eatin’.

But I’ll tell you somethin’, Buttermilk: watermelon was never meant to be sterile. It was born for the outdoors — for porches and fields, for elbow-sticky children and seed-spittin’ contests between cousins who swore they weren’t keepin’ score. It was meant to be messy, joyful, red with life.

Today, we’re preachin’ the Watermelon Gospel. We’re talkin’ seeds and storms, rind and memory. We’ll serve up stories of pickled watermelon rinds, front-porch seed battles, and maybe even a tip or two for growin’ your own.

So sit back, let the juice run down your chin, and let’s celebrate the fruit that tastes like the Fourth of July feels. This is Cornbread & Buttermilk, where summer lives forever — one sweet slice at a time.

Velma’s Short intro  song.

Velma singing

French song

Disclaimer:

Cornbread & Buttermilk is all about sharing stories, traditions, and the wisdom of the Southern kitchen, but we are not medical professionals. The information shared in this episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Always consult with your physician or a qualified healthcare provider before adding new foods, supplements, or home remedies to your routine—especially if you have underlying health conditions or are taking medications. Listen to your body, trust your doctor, and enjoy the journey of good food and well-being!

Thank you for listening; please share our Podcast with friends and family members who would find our stories interesting. It would certainly help us, it would be a blessing, it certainly would.

© [2025] Cornbread & Buttermilk Podcast. The original music of Velma Sugarcane Jones and Obe Monroe is the exclusive property of Cornbread & Buttermilk Podcast. All rights reserved.

Let us know if you enjoyed the program. What’s on your mind? We would love to hear from you. Contact us at: [email protected]

Title: Ragged and Dirty

Performed by: William Brown

Recorded by: Alan Lomax

From the album: Negro Blues and Hollers

Courtesy of: American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

You can reach History By Mail for more information at, www.historybymail.com

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