CityView Magazine

living PlantingThyme By Michael Jaenicke N Experienced Vegetable Gardeners Share Their Secrets Yet neither could act their way into part-time farmer roles. ew Yorkers John Doerner ���My only experience gardening was growing jalape��o pepand his wife Patty Cucco pers, tomatoes and herbs on a fire escape,��� Doerner said. ���But were once city slickers with having a garden was something I���ve always wanted to do.��� the street smarts to naviCucco had slightly more of a background in tending the gate their way through any metropolitan land: as a teenager she reluctantly worked in her father���s landscape. garden. But when the couple, who now live in Hope Mills, moved to Lumberton in 2002, they had an opportunity to fulfill a lifetime dream ��� growing a garden that would supply their needs in the kitchen. Doerner is a drama teacher at Reid Ross Classical School, a director and actor who has performed on stage in more than 100 productions. Cucco, a professional actress, has even more credits, including numerous curtain calls at Cape Fear Regional Theater, the Temple Theater, the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival and she has frequently graced stages big and small in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. 14 | April ��� 2013 When the transplanted Big Apple natives started planting seeds for a vegetable garden they both experienced an amazing revelation ��� it���s relatively easy and a somewhat natural experience that brings them not only a bountiful harvest but a tremendous amount of satisfaction and inner joy. ���The yield for the work you do is incredible,��� Cucco said. ���Gardening is not difficult and almost instinctive to human beings. It���s got a really short learning curve. It���s not like learning to play the guitar or piano and then being able one day to perform in a recital. With a little research, a little work and attention and care you get results that season. And the payback

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