 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Gardener Newsletter | |
|||
| Home › Publications & Resources | ||||
What’s the secret to a long and healthy life? I was 10 years old in 1927 when my grandmother died and my Polish grandfather came to live with us. Our lot was small and paved, but my grandfather immediately set to work, pulling up bricks, and creating a small herb garden. I was one of eight children, but I was the only kid interested in the garden. I remember feeling so proud when my grandfather would tell people that I was a good helper. When I was young everyone was poor, so you didn’t think anything of it. We didn’t have much money to buy gardening supplies, so my grandfather taught me how to grow things the old fashioned way, starting many plants from cuttings and making compost from every scrap. Wherever I go I bring little cuttings and seeds back home. My garden is full of plants that have a story of where they came from. I’ve always had a garden and I love to start new plants and then give them away. My husband was introduced to gardening when we planted a climbing rose to cover an ugly wall along our back alley. Forever after, his favorite flowers were roses – although he wanted them all to be red. I like every color. I love to cook my own veggies from the garden. Especially soup. I make soup at least once a week. Every September I make big pots of soups to sell at the Polish Festival. This year I got terribly hoarse from explaining to hundreds of people how the soups are made, but I pushed myself because younger people don’t seem to have the time to cook, and the old people who still know how to make traditional dishes are dying out. It’s hard to believe how many young people don’t know about fresh vegetables and how to cook them. I’m happiest when I’m busy all day. So when I retired from NVF Fiber Company after 36 years, I started doing lots of volunteer work. Every Wednesday I hand out food to needy families at the New Castle County Food Closet. At St. Hedwig’s I volunteer for lots of things, and I still walk up the hill every day to go to Mass there. I’ve been involved with DCH since the early days when their offices were down on Market Street. All the people I’ve met through DCH have been wonderful and I’ve learned so much over the years. Through my volunteering I’ve learned how to transplant and in what seasons to do it, how to split perennials, how to prune and which plants need a little vinegar water for acid. I helped create the gardens and containers along Market Street Mall, Rodney Square and the Riverfront. I especially like taking care of Kosciuszko Park because it’s in the neighborhood where I grew up. Now whenever I see those places blooming, I’m reminded how I’m a part of that. I’ve entered the City Garden Contest every year since they started 25 years ago. For five years I was even one of the judges. I keep saying that this year I’m going to quit, but at my age there’s no time to sit back. I didn’t get my drivers license until I was 70 after my husband developed cataracts, but now I take the whole neighborhood to doctor’s appointments and shopping trips. They’re all younger than I am and it’s amazing how many of them have broken bones and joint replacements. I’ve got strong bones. Maybe it’s all the soup. Join DCH today and receive The Gardener as a member benefit.
|
||||
