• Name: Sharon Bonorden
• Location: Weldon, CA
• Gardening experience: I plant something each year
• Personal links: http://www.kernvalleygrowersassociation.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/lacabellera

My grandparents were market gardeners back in the Great Depression and continued to garden until they were in their late 70's. My father was also a gardener but more out of need as we always lived a long distance from any stores. Kids were cheap labor so we learned to garden as well. After leaving home, life got busy and I fell out of the gardening habit until I hit middle age. I grew a couple of things in the flower garden from some old seeds I found in my fathers belongings. WOW - all of a sudden I was reminded of the flavor that home grown veggies possessed! Planting heirloom varieties became a passion and now I have so much that I sell what I don't preserve at a local farmers market. Many of my customers are regulars and come to my booth just to see what kind of "weird" things I am growing this year. Now I have good food, regular therapy (amazing what playing in the garden can do for you), and a bunch of new friends that share my passion. Doesn't get much better than that!