Dad’s Fall Greens Garden

Every year at this time, my dad has planted his Fall greens garden.  It’s like clockwork for him.  Once the summer garden is over and done, he gets his garden prepared for Fall greens and it’s a beautiful sight to see.  We know how important my dad’s garden is to him.  It keeps him going and we love that he is still so passionate about his hobby that has lasted a lifetime.  We do not want to discourage that, it truly does keep him going and living life.  We do, however, wish that he would  slow down a little and maybe stick to planting one garden instead of two.  We haven’t won that argument yet either and I’m quite sure in the spring, he will once again plant his Georgia backyard garden and their NC mountain house garden.  It might be time to slow down, but he is not owning it yet.

He amazes me with his stamina.  I mean, I gave up trying to care for my yard and turned it over to professionals this year.  Not him, he still mows his own yard and takes care of all the gardening and pruning around their house.  They don’t make many men like my dad anymore, I don’t think.  For his age, he keeps going and going and going.  And we are happy and grateful for that.

Last week, I was over there for lunch and caught him outside doing something with the pruning shears.  He’s always doing something out there.

His garden is planted with mustard greens, collards, turnips, kale, cabbage, broccoli, and maybe something else I’ve forgotten.

He knows how to grow greens, no doubt about it! And I think this is their secret for healthy living. All these greens add antioxidents into their diet, which no doubt keeps them healthy.  I eat my greens every time I’m there too, with pepper sauce.

If you follow my Instagram or Facebook, you will see me posting lunch at my parents’ house pretty often.  It always looks something like this. With greens on the table.  I had NO idea how popular these quick phone photos would be, but they certainly are.  You all go on and on about the food and what all is on the table.  Southern cooking is contagious, I guess!  My parents know that y’all enjoy them and get a kick out of that.

My entire life, if ever I needed a place of peace and a sense of belonging, I got it at my parents’ house and this table.  I can be a little girl again and feel surrounded by their love.

We are so grateful that God has allowed our parents to still be around.  They have lost many of their peers and we hope to keep them around for many more years to come.   My sister and I try to eat lunch with them once a week when all our schedules permit.  We have started taking them out to lunch once a month, to give mom a break from cooking.  She enjoys it.  Dad tolerates it.  His favorite restaurant is still Iris’s Kitchen.

Thank you all for enjoying our parents too!