Gray Hatt's Story
A few years ago I told myself, “When I buy a house I’m going to have a garden.” Little did I know, it would become a passion that I would enjoy as not only a hobby, but would eventually lead me here, writing this. The garden was at the top of my list. I built a few raised beds, bought a few tomato and pepper plants and got started that spring. Everything went pretty well, so t
he following year I decided to challenge myself and try to grow my own plants. By spring of 2018, I had purchased some seeds and found that the majority of my counter space had been taken over by peat pots and my windows were filled with jars of sweet potato slips. I was constantly using my spare time to research different ways to grow various plants. The horticultural adventure had begun without even realizing it. Quite a few of those plants were a complete failure. The plants that did survive were incorporated into meals that year. This provided me with enough motivation to continue my mini agricultural experiences. For 2019, I chalked up my losses and continued to grow what I had success in the previous year along with a few other plants.
2020 would become the defining year of this newly acquired hobby. I was provided with the opportunity to work a larger garden. No more boxes, no more pots, but a 60x30 foot designated space for a garden. This was big time in my eyes! Hundreds of green beans, gobs of cabbage heads, a multitude of cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes. I loved every minute of it. COVID had also just hit so there was plenty of time to work it and learn from the experience. A few months later in May, my Dad would unfortunately lose his battle with Alzheimer’s. In August, my daughter would enter the world. Within this short amount of time in a spectrum of sorrow and happiness, Gray Hatt would come to be. Garry Ray (Gray)
Hattie Grace (Hatt)
This next stage of the adventure is dedicated to you both. One for being my Dad, and the other for allowing me to become one.