Gardening with grandkids Couple inspires gardening love in next generation Story by ALISON JAMES Photos by ALISON JAMES and CONTRIBUTED
“I
just do it because I like it.” With that simple statement, Jimmy Poss encompasses his feelings about his luscious backyard garden, where he grows cucumbers, peppers, squash, okra, corn and tomatoes. Poss and wife Billie Sue, of Russellville, don’t grow their produce for the farmers market or a roadside stand, instead choosing to share it freely with friends and neighbors. “My enjoyment is giving it to people,” Jimmy explained. In addition to yielding delicious fresh vegetables, gardening also does something else for the Possess: gives them a special way to connect with their grandchildren. Jimmy said although he has a family heritage of gardening, his family didn’t plant much when he was young. Lifelong natives of Russellville, Jimmy graduated from Russellville High School in 1961, and Billie Sue graduated in 1959. “His daddy always had a garden,” noted Billie Sue, though as Jimmy recalls, “When we were growing up, he didn’t have time, a whole lot, for it. He was a carpenter, and he was feeding six mouths.” The 80-year-old couple has one son, Jim, and he and
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wife Carmen have the Posses’ four grandchildren: Jayna, 18, Javan, 15, Asher, 10, and Kingzlee, 8 – the younger three of whom have been dedicated gardening helpers since toddlerhood. “We just like to help him out and help pick everything,” explained Asher. Kingzlee feels the same, often reminding Papaw not to start harvesting until she’s around to help. “Usually I like to pick the grape tomatoes he grows,” she said. “The okra can be hard to pick with your hands, but the squash is pretty easy and the peppers. Everything else is pretty easy to pick with your hands, besides the cucumbers.” “The big tomatoes, they’re probably one of the hardest things to pick with your hands,” Asher added. “They’re real tough and the vines are pretty thick … You slowly pull it harder and harder, and it will just pop out.” Of course, the best part might be eating the fruits of their labor. Kingzlee said her favorite is squash and okra, fried up by Granny Billie Sue. Javan also enjoys Granny’s fried squash and okra, and Asher’s favorite is a juicy slice of salted tomato. Papaw Jimmy said he loves having his grandchildren’s help as he grows and picks his yearly garden. “Oh, I enjoy it,” he said. “I look forward to them coming and helping me out and keeping me straight.”
Franklin Living
