My 96-Year-old Dad has a Green Thumb in West Virginia

My father and I are enjoying the season and have put in a raised bed garden in his yard. This is the first year, but he is enjoying all phases . . . soil prep, planting, cultivation, and harvesting.

When I was a kid we always had a garden that my dad worked. I was not interested, or was too too lazy to help, but did listen and learn from him. In addition to vegetables, we had apple trees that he would graft different apples onto and quite a grape arbor. He has always had an interest and a great deal of knowledge about all flowers, plants, and trees, and has always had a green thumb.

Our tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and beans have really been a hit this year. My dad’s favorite is kale. We have grown curly, Tuscan, and Siberian kale this year with great success. We fry it up with bacon, onions, and sometime collard greens . . . YUM!

For the last two years I had a garden, which my dad took care of when I traveled for work. This year I am retiring and we put one in his yard, so we are getting double the pleasure of sharing with family, friends, and neighbors.