
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, August 14, 1993                   TAG: 9308140032
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

AS CORNY AS KANSAS

Among the checkerboard of vegetable plots clinging to Mountain Pass Road in Botetourt County, Harrell's is the only one that doesn't show the scars of a July drought.

"I pump water in from the lake, yonder," the 49-year-old USAir mechanic said Friday afternoon, standing amid the butterbeans in front of a 7-foot wall of "golden queen" sweet corn.

The fact that the garden's only a block or so from his home in the Blue Ridge community of Troutville is no accident. It's tied in with his peace of mind.

"When it gets dark, I like to be at home," he said, fingers locked together under the bib of his overalls. He doesn't understand the thousands who pay his salary each day by climbing aboard USAir jets.

"Where does all the people go?" he asked with amusement.

Harrell and his wife expect to put up 40 quarts of butterbeans this year, plenty for the winter. And when he starts pulling ears today, he thinks there'll be enough to go around, too.

The secrets to a lush garden in August: Do what you can for yourself, and know where to go for more help.

"No matter how much water I pull out of that lake, there's nothing better than when the good Lord puts it on there himself."

by CNB