Kat Gemmer, Kat Gemmer HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW

Kat Gemmer, Kat Gemmer HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW

PHOTOS © Vicky Moon

“My grandmother killed a rattlesnake on the road to the big barn with her hoe by chopping its head off. She was so matter of fact. Chop! And we then kept walking.”

By Leonard Shapiro

Kat Gemmer

The circa late 1700s White Bunch Beans in Kat’s hand are known as Granny Donna Beans. “It is our oldest and favorite bean and a source of protein through the winters in Appalachia.

At first glance, Kat Gemmer’s gorgeous Round Hill garden is filled with what appear to be the standard vegetables grown in similar patches all around the countryside—tomatoes, beans, squash, onions, giant okra and so much more. But this is hardly just another produceproducing patch.

The seeds she plants and lovingly nurtures through maturity also have a little history to them, not to mention a future that includes a pot or a plate. They are heirloom seeds that have been passed down from generation to generation of her family going all the way back to the 1700s.

“I come from a family that settled in Madison County in North Carolina,” she said. “It’s the Shelton Family and they go back to 1738. The seed has been preserved for generations and comes from that original family.”

There are eight varieties of beans, seven varieties of tomatoes and on and on. Many are named for relatives—the Inez or Mamie tomato, the Granny Donna beans for example, the latter the oldest variety of bean she grows dating back to the late 1700s when it served as a prime source of winter protein.

“With our heirloom tomatoes, we have to pick them all and we eat them all,” Gemmer said. “I also do a lot of canning. The greasy beans, the blue chips, used to make leather britches. In the old days, they planted them with the corn but you can’t do that now because the sweet corn of today just doesn’t work with the beans. And back then, tomatoes were considered a delicacy. They would cross pollinate them all the time.”

In addition to vibrant vegetables, the garden is surrounded by shimmering French marigolds. “I was always taught that when you put marigolds all around, instead of using pesticides, they would repel insects,” Gemmer said. “It definitely works.”

Gardening is hardly Gemmer’s only passion. She’s also a devoted and dedicated teacher as head of the science department at Woodgrove High in Loudoun County. She has served as chairwoman for the popular Upperville Trinity Church Stable Tour, volunteers for other good causes and, with her Navy veteran husband, Jim, raised their now adult children.

“I’ve been gardening my whole life,” she said. “And when the kids left, I really got into it. Gardening is a way of life for me.”

It’s all in the family, of course. And, all about the history of where it comes from Kat Gemmer, Kat Gemmer.

“Shelton Beans are the same as Granny Donna Beans This bean is the oldest variety on our farm and dates to very early 1800s,” Kat Gemmer said, in recalling stories from her childhood.” My great grandmother changed her name as a young woman in order to be more modern. Appalachia pronunciation of Donna is “Donny.” She was missing a thumb and frightened us by telling my sister, who sucked her thumb, that we would have a gnarled thumb forever. It worked, and for years I would tuck my thumbs at night.”

Kat uses French marigolds as an easy to grow companion plant to keep the harmful nematodes away.

Kat’s grandmother called these Sweetheart Roses, which are planted by the front door.

Tomatoes a la Kat Gemmer are open pollinated true to seed and include: Maimie Perfect Purple (small canning tomatoes. Never cracks and burst), Maimie Franklin Landers, Inez Yellow, Inez King Big Creek from Carson King, Ethel Orange named for Aunt Ethel Franklin in the family for generations when canned with red are beautiful, Vona Stripe and Vona Johnson Shelton.

Ms. Baker’s Sunflowers are planted every year for welcome flower. They are tall singles and multi-branched. “I have no idea where they came from,” Kat noted.