Gardening lessons City hopes to keep programs alive

Sam, Leo and Gus Smith recently got a surprise find when they walked to the family garden ­ a carrot that wintered through from last year.

They are the children of Stephen and Elizabeth Smith of Holly Springs and students at Marshall Academy who are participating in virtual learning from home due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

"They found it when we had a homeschool lesson on weeding," Elizabeth said.

She also e-mailed some additional photos to the newspaper office of the children working in the garden.

"It's good for the soul," Elizabeth said. "We have talked to the boys lately about how during World War I and World War II, families planted victory gardens to supplement their rations and also to boost morale.

"Gardeners could feel empowered by their contribution of labor and rewarded by the produce grown.

"During World War II, about one-third of all produce grown in the U.S. came from these backyard gardens.

"We found it quite inspiring ­ a good family quarantine project."

Elizabeth said she is so glad that the family started its big garden project last year.

"We are adding irrigation and more structures this year, and a couple more beds if we can get a lumber delivery," she said, "plus new compost boxes."

Her son Leo hopes the family can still give tomatoes to neighbors this year.

"He asked if `the Rona' was still going on when our tomatoes come in, if we could still give them to neighbors if we just set them on their porch," Elizabeth said.

"I told him I didn't think even `ole Rona would keep somebody from turning down a homegrown heirloom tomato."