GARDEN SPOTLIGHT Times reporter Jessi Dreckman tends straw bale garden with 2-year-old Delilah Belle
Gardeners’ names: Jessi Dreckman and daughter Delilah Belle
Describe your garden: We have a garden spot that’s about 20 feet by 30 feet. It features a 6-foot fence to keep the critters out. We typically plant in-ground but, inspired by Mindy Pippin’s beautiful straw bale gardens from years past, we decided to go that route. We’ve now surrounded the interior fence with about 30 bales that are either currently planted with summer plants or are in the process of being conditioned for fall planting.
We also have a soaker hose system that runs throughout, making watering a breeze. That’s a must with a 2-year-old.
We’ve planted three types of cherry tomatoes (Super sweet 100s, black cherry and Sungold), and five types of large tomatoes (hillbilly, green zebra, purple Cherokee, pineapple and beefsteak).
We’ve also planted green beans, purple “yard long” beans; Boston pickling cucumbers; West India Burr gherkins; basil; orange, red and green bell peppers; zucchini and yellow squash; icebox watermelon; cantaloupe; and a honeydew-type melon called Bodacious.
For fall planting, we’re preparing to plant lots of lettuces and other greens, turnips, radishes, miniature pumpkins, sugar snap peas, carrots and more.
The space isn’t huge, but we’re getting an amazing amount of produce out of it.
How long have you been gardening? Are you influenced by other relatives or ancestors who had a garden?
I’ve been gardening since I graduated high school. I’ve had huge gardens and little gardens, and one year I just had three tomato plants in 5-gallon buckets.
My mother, Carole Long, is an awesome gardener and has always grown a big garden. My grandparents, Ronald Fife and his wife Mary, and my grandmother, the late Phyllis Fife, were also big gardeners. My great-great-grandparents, Edith and Elray Fife, who we called Mamaw and Pappaw, were probably the best gardeners of the bunch. They endured the Depression and survived by feeding themselves. We always ate from the garden at Mamaw and Pappaw’s house.
I hope Delilah will be inspired by what we’re doing now and will grow her own garden when she’s older.
What is your favorite thing to grow?
Delilah takes after her mama. We both love to plant, grow and eat tomatoes. I prefer the funky, colorful heirloom varieties, and she loves cherry tomatoes. Every day we go out to the “wall of cherry tomatoes,” and Delilah plucks them from the vine. “It’s ripe,” she’ll say, then pop it in her mouth. I’ve tried picking them and feeding them to her in the kitchen, but she doesn’t eat nearly as many there. She prefers her “’matoes” straight from the vine.
Do you have any special tips, tricks or advice for other gardeners? I’ve had the pleasure of learning many tips and tricks from friends and neighbors over the years. The best things I did this year were to invest in a soaker hose system; put down newspaper, cardboard and straw as a weed barrier; and plant in straw bales. (If you do opt for a straw bale garden, Google how to condition the bales before planting. It’s important!)
There have been no weeds popping up. My plants have done exceptionally well, and I haven’t been stressed trying to keep up with watering like in past years. While working at the Times and raising a 2-year-old, I just don’t have the time each day to dedicate to my garden like I did when I was younger. But with the soaker hose system, I just turn on the spigot after work to water the plants for a couple of hours. It’s been a lifesaver! I’ve also recently learned that you can hunt tomato hornworms with a blacklight at night. They glow and are really easy to spot under the blacklight – and kids love the hunt!
What’s your favorite part of gardening? What’s your least favorite part?
I love spending time in the garden. It’s a wonderful place to relax and become grounded. There’s also something so satisfying about growing and eating your own food. Delilah loves being there too. She calls it “Mama and D’s garden.” It’s a great feeling knowing that she’s spending time outside and learning to love vegetables and other produce. She’s much more likely to try new foods if she’s helped grow and pick them.