A Family of Gardeners
My Dad and younger brother, Ben in Keene, NH, circa 1989.
My parents met and married in the mid 70’s and bought their first home in Howardsville, Virginia. Howardsville was in the country- a little less than 30 miles south of Charlottesville, nestled along the James River.
My parents both worked at Eltzroth and Thompson Greenhouses in Charlottesville. My Dad helped build some of the greenhouses at the nursery and if you were to go there today, you’d find his name, “Peter” written in cement…everywhere.For as long as I can remember, my parents have always had an expansive vegetable garden. They’re both big believers in the benefits of plain-old leaf mulch. I never thought it looked pretty, but my parents are practical people. The leaves were free and offered numerous advantages for their organic gardens.In the early 90s, my parents went their separate ways but their interests in organic gardening and growing their own vegetables and cut flowers continued. 
My Dad’s compact garden at his home in west Keene, NH today.
My Dad now has his own block in a community garden. I’m a little biased, but his garden really is the best looking one in the complex. He used his charm and seniority to convince the board to let him combine two adjoining plots into one, measuring 10’ x 18’. He built up the soil by 2’ and boxed in his garden- creating a gigantic raised bed. He adds leaf mulch and compost every season. 
He’s very proud of the rich, fertile soil he created and his broccoli plants and colorful crop of zinnias, verbena, veronica and allium are proof of its magic.
My Dad’s garden around late June.
My Mother’s love of gardening continued on when she rejuvenated a run down 80 acre farm in Western Massachusetts in the late nineties. She started a vegetable garden and opened up her first farm stand. 
My Mother in front of her first farm stand in Western Massachusetts.
She now cultivates a large garden in Terryville, CT where she grows garlic and any kind of vegetable you could imagine along with raspberries, blueberries and beautiful cut flowers for her bees. 
Would you guess that my Mother used to be an accountant?
I have my own gardens planned, but I’ll be sticking to flowers.