As we celebrate the harvest, and our nation's official feasting holiday, I am giving particular thanks to the men of southwest Michigan who helped me get my garden in shape for a first bumper crop of tomatoes (although the other results were spotty at best).
For lawn guy Rick and his brush hog who cleared the plot. Then he came back with a total of six cubic yards of compost to help enrich the soil.
For neighbor farmer Al, who drove his tractor up the road to rototil the garden, then contributed his leftover tomato plants for above-mentioned bumper crop. The Sungolds, Romas and various beefsteaks found their way into salads first, then later sauces and oven-dried splendor.
For master carpenter Kurt, who built a gorgeous lattice fence too keep out hungry critters, and unearthed countless rocks from the foundation of a long-gone barn. I learned the hard way that you also need a barrier at the base of the gate, or else insistent critters will shimmy underneath.
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For brother-in-law Mark, who laid down the wood chips and helped set a gracious setting for my bumper crop of tomatoes
