AJ News

Mauri Rapp Abington Journal Correspondent

The region this summer received more than its fair share of rain, and unfortunately the above average rainfall and damp weather took its toll on many backyard gardens in the area. For Jim and Tracie Lennox of Jessup, the key to keeping their garden lush and bountiful this year was to plant a variety of vegetables that grow well in the garden and taste good on the dining table. While many gardens were hit by tomato blight and other types of plant rot, the Lennox garden has stayed chock full of cabbage, rhubarb, soy beans, green beans and other vegetable plants that thrive in below average temperatures and wet weather.

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Garden No. 10 Jim and Tracie Lennox Jessup

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Above, green and soy beans, both packed with nutrients, were able to excel in the Lennox garden despite the wet summer.

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When it comes to planning and preparing the garden, the Lennox family works together. “I tell Jim what I want to plant, and he does the planting,” said Tracie. Gardening has becoming a family affair, too, with their older children – Grace, 5 and Eddie, 3 – helping out around the yard as Jimmy, 19 months, looks on. And with three growing children, Tracie said having a garden right outside the kitchen door combines the fun of being together as a family with the benefits of healthy eating. For example, each Friday, the family makes homemade pizza topped with fresh vegetables from the garden, including peppers and zucchini.

The health and economical benefits of cooking at home are a big part of spring’s garden planning process. Tracie said a lot of what they plant is according to her own homemade recipes. For the first time this year, they planted cabbage for a favorite family dish of stuffed cabbage, or “pigs in the blanket,” as it is called. Next year, they’ll expand their garden to include onions and cucumbers with their tomatoes and peppers for homemade Panzanella, an Italian bread salad prepared with a vinaigrette dressing. Planting pumpkins not only saves on purchasing pumpkin meat for pies and soups but also provides decor for the Halloween season. “Pumpkins aren’t really that expensive, but in a way they are,” said Tracie. “A packet of seeds is a lot cheaper than buying them at the grocery store.” Plus, seeds can be salted, roasted in the oven and eaten, which she said is another healthy snack idea for her children and something she also does with spaghetti squash seeds. “Anything that gets them to eat healthy or eat their vegetables, I’m all for,” she said.

Tracie said that the benefit of homegrown vegetables was definitely made evident to her because of the tomato blight. Ordinarily, she said she would use homegrown tomatoes for spaghetti and hot wing sauce. Unfortunately this year that was not to be, so she used store bought tomatoes. “I’ll be honest, it wasn’t as good,” she said. “Foods are much better when they are fresh and homegrown.” Planning, preparation and an open mind to different types of foods gave the Lennox family a bumper crop that can be saved, dried and canned, providing the family with healthy homegrown vegetables well into the winter months.

Want to nominate?

The Abington Journal and theabingtonjournal .com are running a 14-week story series written by Mauri Rapp and a contest on home gardens in the greater Abington coverage area. We will accept nominations for 14, which will be featured in print and online through Oct. 28. Our readers will vote at the Abington Journal office and on our Web site. To nominate a garden, call Editor Kristie Grier Ceruti at 570.585.1604 or email kgrier@theabington journal.com. Weekly winners will receive a $10 gift card from Corky’s Garden Path. One grand prize winner will receive a $200 gift card.