Not NJ but...

Everyone growing up on our block when I was a kid remembers Mr. Pearson's garden. Totally organic (in the 60's!), well manicured, raised beds, surrounded by little drainage ditches with little board "bridges" (more for the wheelbarrow than for people), everything large with many of the beds flanked by flower beds. Being one of the first families on the block, they had a larger piece of land than most others. The overall effect was pretty impressive. He also had many "exotics" that the typical weekend suburban gardeners never had, including things like asparagus, raspberries, kohlrabi and corn (as in "on the cob"). I remember that he used newspapers and lawn clippings to control the weeds, broken up glass for drainage and to raise the beds. All of which was made possible by his job as an insurance salesman which enabled him to work off hours and as much or as little as he liked. His office was in his house so he wasted not time (or gas) commuting. I'm sure he worked for a living, but as a kid, I really only remember him outside in the garden.

The very fact that we are no longer in NJ precludes these from being Jesery Tomatoes, but they are looking pretty good (knock wood) at this point. It's nothing like Mr. Pearson's garden by any means, but it is enough to bring back some memories, provide some yummy food, and offer up one more thing to "tinker" around with. These plants started as seeds in cut off milk cartons in the breakfast room, so there is a little extra sense of happiness with the progress. As with all vegetable gardens it seems, the crest of the harvest wave starts to roll in just as we roll out for vacation elsewhere. The neighbors always wishing us well in our garden, perhaps for selfish reasons.


And when the weather is hot and humid and muggy, when you break out into a sweat just from turning a page in a book, there is a bright side in knowing that the tomatoes are so happy in this weather that you can almost hear them growing...