by Hannah Tangeman
Charlene Ford has gardened for over 50 years in Susanville, starting with a love of dahlias and flowers which evolved into vegetables now covering over an acre of raised beds on Hall Street behind Frosty Mill.
Ford has been a long time exhibitor of prize winning floral entries at the Lassen County Fair, at times with over 100 samples.
She taught in Susanville schools until she retired, then she pursued her other growing passion with her time. Even, now she speaks of the “joy of seeing things grow.” Her Granddaughter Nicole has now stepped up to help the enterprise continue into its second generation of urban farming.
Charlene says that she grows her vegetables as close to organic as possible making them far fresher (hours off the vine) than anything you can buy in a store with intense flavors.
The garden is impressively orderly and free of weeds. Hours are spent with a hoe manually removing offending suspects within the flowers and vegetables. Locally raised vegetables include greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, potatoes, turnips, eggplants, carrots, onions, beets, peppers, bok choi, zucchini and too many others to mention.
Hall Street Gardens is a well kept secret for ravishing bouquets in vases which can brighten any day ready for customers to display with pride in their home until the next farmers market when Nicole arranges even more beautiful floral bunches.
Dazzling dahlias larger than a farmers hand provoke marvel from customers and vendors alike. Colors that are shocking or pale will warm any heart. Simple flowers, sophisticated blooms match the seasons as they stretch across the summer.
Hall Street Gardens prove local tastes better starting with the produce in your market bag and looks better with flowers that defy any definition of local beauty.
