Rae Ebeling loves gardening. A lot.
“I grew up on a farm in Maryland,” Ebeling said.
It’s not always easy, Ebeling said. The Cottonwood resident said that some growing seasons have been difficult.
Keeping things watered in the desert can also be an issue, Ebeling said, which was why she decided to check out an event last week where Cottonwood employees explained how they have reclaimed wastewater, potentially for people who want to see things grow.
Ebeling works a plot in the community gardens at Riverfront Park. She’s also a member of the local gardening club, the Verde Thumbs.
Ebeling’s current focus is on tomatoes, which she grows from seed, starting them out wrapped in wet paper towels until they are able to be transferred to larger and lagers containers.
In fact, the gardening club is holding a tomato tasting at its next meeting Tuesday, Aug. 12, Ebeling said, and everyone is invited to bring their local tomatoes for everyone to try.
The group meets at the Seventh-day Adventist Church by the corner of Mingus Avenue and Willard Street.
“The one rule is you have to label the tomatoes,” Ebeling said.
This year has been difficult for the crop because of the curly top virus going around, Ebeling said.
“You taste one tomato and it’s great, you taste another and its terrible,” Ebeling said.
To read the full story, see the Wednesday, July 23, edition of The Camp Verde Journal.
