All I really needed to know about gardening I learned from my grandparents.

Gardening is hard, yet rewarding, work. Planting seeds, caring for tender plants, watering daily and harvesting require patience. You learn to adapt, sometimes you try new things. The end result, though, is worth the time.

My Wausa grandparents grew rows of green beans, cucumbers, potatoes and a lot of sunflowers. I remember a few tomato plants, too, although I do not remember Grandma cooking a lot of tomato-based foods.

My Tilden grandparents grew a bountiful garden. Cucumbers to be pickled; green beans, tomatoes,...