Marni thought it was important for kids to learn how to work hard, and one method she found was gardening.
In 1970 she started a “community garden” in the common ground behind Sycamore Glen Court in Florissant, MO with the Johnson’s who lived next door (to the left) and had 7 kids. She was a little upset when the Johnson’s didn’t pull their weight in weeding but did in harvesting. Who can blame them with 7 kids?
We moved to Crestwood on Buxton Drive in 1972, and Marni now had a 1/2 acre yard. There was a Purina employee Dr. Dahlgren, who had access to Purina’s turkey farm and turkey manure. We knew the Dahlgren’s from Webster Gardens Lutheran church. Marni went to get about 20 bags of turkey manure and made Steve and Scott load it into the metal shed, which Claude Jr assembled but hated doing it.
She got railroad ties as a perimeter for the garden and had Scott and Steve place the ties and dig the soil. We grew eggplant, broccoli, green beans, tomatoes, and other vegetables. Claude Jr obtained an air rifle for control of rabbits. Scott and Steve shot a few bunnies. We could have done better with chicken wire surrounding the garden.
Even though we didn’t like it at the time as teens, Scott and Steve became gardeners. Since becoming an adult in 1982, Steve has only missed 2 seasons – when he moved to an Oklahoma City apartment in 1982, and when he moved to Virginia in 2009. Thanks to Marni who led us down this path.
