Massive garden tended by woman with kids' help

By GWEN ALBERS Western News Reporter

When Joanne and Jerry Fry purchased 3 1/2 acres in the Pipe Creek area, he liked the home. She liked the empty space.

"I looked to the north and south, and said 'I have a spot for my garden,'" Joanne Fry said.

The 69-year-old kept good on her intentions.

For a fourth summer, Fry has planted a massive 150- by 200-foot vegetable and flower garden next to her home on Bobtail Cutoff. She spends 10 hours daily planting, weeding, transplanting, watering and picking produce.

"I enjoy it and like watching things grow," Fry said. "I like that people can have stuff without having to pay the high price."

Fry sells much of her harvest during the Kootenai Valley Farmers' Market from 4-7 p.m. each Thursday at the band shell next to the old Libby High School on Mineral Avenue. She also invites folks to her garden, where they can pick produce for a donation.

"I love the fresh peas," said Don Levin of Libby, who visits Fry's garden weekly.

The other day Levin picked raspberries, peas and beets for a donation.

Fry uses the money from donations to buy seeds for the following year.

The garden has caught the attention of neighbors and passersby. Local kids like Dakota Burson, Luke Harmon and Logan O'Neil like to ride their bikes to Fry's home to help her with the garden.

"We made a deal," said Burson, 10. "We help as long as we can get food. It's fun."

"The fresh vegetables are good," added O'Neil, 13. "It's nice to help."

At times, it's hard for Fry to keep track of all that she's planted. Every year varies.

This year's crop includes sweet and hot peppers, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, dill, horseradish, rhubarb, egg plant, sweet potatoes, white squash, zucchini and four varieties of onions. There's also mustard greens, spinach, collards, Swiss chard, carrots, lettuce, radishes, green beans, peas, leeks, cantaloupe, watermelon and pumpkins for the kids.

Fry has raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, gooseberry, strawberries and red current bushes. Tomatoes include Early Girls, Russian and Romas. There's also cherry, grape and yellow pear tomatoes.

From the 300 pepper plants and 300 tomato plants put in this year, Fry has already harvest two Russian yellow tomatoes, while some peppers are about ready.

She begins planting seeds in her greenhouse in April. By mid-May, Fry began putting in tomato plants. Most of the planting is done from June 1-5, after the threat of frost.

A retired certified nursing assistant and instructor, Fry normally loses 25 pounds during the summer because she's so busy with the garden.

While she's outdoors, her husband fixes dinner.

"He rings the bell when it's done," Fry said.

Prior to moving to Pipe Creek four years ago, the Frys spent 8 years traveling on a sailboat. They went to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Panama Canal, Hawaii, Seattle and Canada.