Gardening into advanced age

[oldmoleskins]

I had the privilege to be introduced to (probably) our oldest villager today - Dan - who isn't satisfied with being 95 and wants to be known as 'nearly 96'.

Anyhew, he is still gardening and on a good day still rides his bike - lives by himself and grows most of the veg he needs, but - and this is the bit that I thought most impressive in a way - his garden was scattered with flowers too. A bit random, a bit ragged, but joyful.
Now, there's a thing. You can't eat them, I don't suppose he cuts them for the house, sadly there must be few opportunities to present them to anyone, but there they were in an inspirational show of complete whimsy - which, when doing anything must be an effort unimaginable to most of us, shows such a wonderful disregard for the wholly practical I warmed to him immediately.

OM.

[snowowl]

Good on him OM i hope im still capeable of that achievement if i reach his age

[Amo]

Well done your Dan, he sounds wonderful. An inspiration I'm sure.

Our village has an 87 year old Percy who has several 'allotments' around the village and is always doing something with plants or chickens somewhere.

Bright as a button and, apart from a slight stoop, very agile too! He can still sling a sack of chook corn about.

[Ruthie]

I visited an old boy in your Village when I worked for the Pension Service. He was I think in his early 90's and still tended his garden. He had a lot of apple trees, including some real old Norfolk ones which he told me were now virtually extinct (don't know why I didn't think of that before OM, knowing your interest in old apples). Anyhow, it being September at the time, he gave me a carrier bag full of apples to take away. We were not really s'posed to take gifts in case they were construed as bribes. But I couldn't not take them. So I took them back to the office, filled in the gifts and favours form in triplicate and offered the apples round. There were few takers so I took them home. Within a day or two they were all rotten!!! Silly me didn't check the carrier bag and there was obviously one rotten one which turned the rest. I remember I ate 2 of the eaters but most were cookers so OH had to go without his apple crumble again!!!

BTW OM. If you're still gardening at 95/6 you may find you need some help in the garden. If so give this 87 year old a call and I'll come over wielding my spade!!!

[JennyWrenn]

We had an old gardener in our "village" - he had a big allotment nearby - it was his pride and joy and you would see him with his wheelbarrow every Morning and Evening - he used to walk there from his home - full of compost, plants et al

It was by a stream and he had a little chair - you could see him there most of the day - sitting on it or hoeing away - he had a lot of veggies

Then the Council dug it all up to make way for a car park

It must have upset him - I bet they didnt find him another - he must have been in his mid 80's

Not seen him around since

[4pygmies]

I think it's Admirable Kirk to be so active at that age, and I hope I am if still about then but I suppose, for that generation it's the norm isn't it? They didn't grow up being able to buy absolutely anything, day or night, on demand and they all lived through the war years..I think it's an attitude we should all strive to emulate - growing your own food as far as possible, enjoying flowers, wildlife and being part of the circle of life without grabbing and abusing things and keeping yourself as fit and healthy as possible. I expect he grows flowers partly because he likes them and partly because he knows it's good for his veggies, OM. Sounds like fine way of life to me

[Weeterrier]

My Dad still cuts all my grass, at 95. He'd do more if I let him, but he treads on everything. Not because of his age, he has always done it.
It is only recently that I have stopped him from slinging slabs around. ;D

[Shrubrose]

You're looking at your future, Wee! ;D

[Ruthie]

Aug 31, 2008 8:10:44 GMT Weeterrier said:

My Dad still cuts all my grass, at 95. He'd do more if I let him, but he treads on everything. Not because of his age, he has always done it.
It is only recently that I have stopped him from slinging slabs around. ;D

Is "slab slinging" some sort of sport in Scotland then WT? Like Caber tossing? Down here in Norfolk we have "Dwile Flonking"! Don't ask! But dwiles are a lot lighter than slabs or cabers!!!

[Deleted]

" Down here in Norfolk we have "Dwile Flonking"! Don't ask! But dwiles are a lot lighter than slabs or cabers!!!"

Hi, Suparuthie.
That's not all they have in Norfolk. In 1950 I camped at The Lifeboat Pub in Thornham, in the evening we played "Penny in the Hole". You stood at one side of the room and there was a seat the opposite side with a small hole in it and a drawer underneath. There were 13 "Pennies" and you each took turns to throw them across the room and into the hole (Bit like bar room golf). How ever many you got in, you had that many less next time. The first to get all thirteen in won. I've known it to last until after 1.00am (closing time was 10.00pm). They had some of the original pennies from the 18th century. The ones you played with were brass discs the same size. The trick was to bounce the penny off the seat, up the back and with luck it fell back into the hole. Damned difficult as the hole was not much larger than the penny.

I wonder if it is still there.

[Ruthie]

Hi Larkshall. I haven't been to the Lifeboat but if I'm ever up that way I'll call in and have a look! What a lovely memory though! Bet the hole used to increase to 2 or even 4 holes by the end of the evening! ;D

[Jardack]

My nan loves her garden too - although she is only 83. She is now trying spuds in pots for the first time and has just bought her first orchid

I can only hope to be still doing as well when I am her age

Jardack