Retired farmers can’t kick growing gardens
 FEATURED STORY · May 28, 2009
FROM THE COON RAPIDS ENTERPRISE FRONT PAGE ARCHIVES
By Alyssa Jackson
 Harry and Evelyn Olesen can’t stop making things grow.
“Old habits die hard,” Harry told the Enterprise staff on a warm May afternoon. Evelyn grinned when Harry brought up old habits and added, “We lived for years out in the country.”
The Olesens kept livestock at a farm house outside Coon Rapids and were in the grain business, too, for 36 years. That’s when they developed the “habit” of making things grow.
“What they’re farming now is quite a bit bigger,” he said.
The Olesens retired from the farming life and moved to town in 1998. Try as they might, they couldn’t leave farming completely behind. Soon after they moved to their new home on the corner of Park and 7th Avenue, Harry and Evelyn planted a small vegetable garden in the back yard.
“We have all the basics,” Harry said. “Beets, tomatoes, carrots, spinach and others in very small rows, because the garden’s not very big.”
In the garden, the Olesens plant everything except tomatoes from seed. Evelyn still cans fresh tomatoes.
“I do like canning tomatoes,” she said. “Last year we had pretty good luck with them.”
One thing the Olesens don’t have is sweet corn.
“We had sweet corn out in the country,” Harry said. “We’d share it with people in town.”
This favor to town residents is now being returned as a few ears show up on the Olesen’s front step every summer, he said.
Growing vegetables is more than a hobby, though. It’s a healthy way to live, the Olesens said. Not only does gardening place fresh produce on the table, but the act of gardening is good, healthy exercise.
“It keeps you young,” Harry said with a smile.
This is one habit the Olesens won’t want to kick.
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