It's spring so in honour of the season of growth and renewal, the question for this edition is about early gardening memories from volunteers who help tend the grounds of the 91原创 Senior Resources Society centre.
Nancy Rathgeber
"I was born on a farm in Saskatchewan, and we had at least two or three acres of gardening, and at least an acre of potatoes.
She recalls as a small child in a family of six kids on the wheat farm that one of her duties was to hoe the potatoes, mounding the soil over them.
"And weed, and plant鈥� and harvest."
Bob Hayes
"Mom and dad were both farmers and always had a big garden. And even as a kid one my favourite things would be running the rototiller.
"I remember as a young teenager dad supplied the gas, and I went knocking on doors and cut lawns, and used the rototiller, as well," he said of his upbringing in Cold Lake, Alta.
Yvette King
"I'm from France. So we live just outside of Paris. And uh we had a big house and a huge garden with first trees, vegetables, and you named it. We added ducks, hens, rabbits.
"And my father, he was a teacher, and he said, 'Come on, Yvette. You have to learn.' So, he gave me a little plot in a corner, and he want me to grow parsley. And to this day, I remember all the parsley, and then I went to tomatoes and [more]. So, I love gardening. I love being outside.
"And at this time of year, it's my favourite time. Suddenly, everything just explodes with that tender green. It's just beautiful," the 90-year-old said. I'm still gardening.
Gail Hayes
"My mom and dad were always in the garden. Mom looked after the flowers, and the dad looked after the vegetables and the lawn."
Hayes, who grew up in White Rock, said the kids were involved in sports so their parents let them focus on that, not forcing them to help with yard and garden work.
"We used to help with harvesting. Harvesting and eating."
鈥� Please check out the full May 2025 edition of the Living 60+ magazine online here.
