This week, we chatted with Meadow’s resident and avid gardener, Frank (73 years young).
Tell us about yourself
Frank and his wife Lula have been living at the Meadows, an 80-unit Senior apartment complex in North Smithfield for close to two years. Frank loves to be outdoors, especially gardening and fishing.
What do you do for fun?
I like to go to Colt State Park to fish. I recently caught two very good-sized Tautog (aka Blackfish).
What do you like about where you live?
Frank had a few things to say about this question. First of all, Frank and his wife love their neighbors.
All of the people who live here are very friendly.
He also, really loves the garden area. The Meadows is fortunate to have 12 garden beds. Each spring, residents enter a lottery for the right to adopt a garden bed. The selected residents then get to work preparing the soil, planting flowers and vegetables, and eventually harvesting their crops for the rest of the community to enjoy.
Frank enjoys playing in the dirt and the joy that you get from growing something from scratch that can eventually feed his whole family. During our interview he pointed to his lush bed of collard greens with pride.
My whole family loves collard greens. I will be able to pick some next week! I really wanted to grow onions again too, but the plants were all sold out.
Frank pointed out a few other plants, including his first attempt at growing cabbage.
Good luck with your garden Frank! We will have to go take a look later in the season to see what else has cropped up.
Thanks so much to Frank for taking a little time to tell us about your life at the Meadowss! Are you a NeighborWorks Neighbor interested in sharing your story? Reach out to Katie Owens to be featured in the future.