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At 76, my FRiend, you are my gardening hero. You are the same age as my dad, who is still going at it just as you are!!!

It was a person of your vintage and wisdom, that led me down this crazy path of green leaves, evil bugs, beautiful flowers and delicious fruits. About a hundred years ago, when I was a tot, I was blessed with a grandpa. I thought this man hung the moon, and I still do. He remains the smartest man I ever knew, despite his sixth grade education. He instilled in me a love of nature and of science and a relentless discovery ethic. He taught me to always ask “but why?” And I’ve been doing that over 40 years. After I finished a “vocation” at 30 years old, I later entered an “avocation” inspired by him.

The youngsters of your family are truly blessed to have your example.

Just think, the ones who seem like the most lost of all causes.... (!) They are going to be the ones to surprise you how they turn out!

(Like I most certainly would have surprised my grandpa. LOL)

My first gardening experience started in the 30s and was forced child labor, especially after I burned the barn down...and 120 acres of ripe Barley. The big garden was irrigated by ditch water but Mama's little kitchen was watered by a big pitcher pump in the kitchen area not far from the 2 holer outhouse. (never did see 2 people at a time use it?)

I have a photo of me picking cotton in my own sack that Mama made for me when I was 6. This was in western FResno County. My Mama was a early subscriber to Rodale’s Organic Farming and Gardening where I learned to art of making compost some time in the late 40’s. I took a leave from the garden in my late teens then I got married to my First Wife in 1957 and as money was tight we spent a lot of hours in the garden. My landlord thought I was the most gifted person he ever met. LOL...

These days are like that email of the woman who finds a letter that should have been mailed 2 days ago. She heads out to the mail box and spots her car keys on a table on the porch so she puts the letter down to put the keys away when she notices the planters are dry so she puts the keys down to water the plants and notices the bird feeders are empty do she puts the hose down to get bird seed when she notices a window needs cleaning so she puts the bird seed down to get the windex etc etc etc etc until at the end of the day she is worn out, the letter is still on the table, the keys are still lost, the planters are still dry etc etc etc...