Thursday, December 6, 2018


Monongah Elementary third grade student Spencer Garrett of Idamay is a $1,000 cabbage head.

That’s the size of the savings bond for education he won from the Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program for growing a 14-pound cabbage. That $71.43 per pound. Even the best steak isn’t anywhere near that profitable.

Joan Casanova, spokesperson for the Union Springs, Alabama-based Bonnie Plants firm, said more than a million third graders participated in the contest, which has been going on since 1996.

Spencer’s grandmother, 1975 Farmington High graduate Robin Harley Garrett, has been at home in a garden most of her life. Just like my grandmother, Mary Peremba Olesky, wife of Martin Olesky, who was working a 40 x 80 foot garden on Pike Avenue when she was in her 80s.
 
Spencer’s parents are Thomas and Kristi Garrett of Idamay. His grandparents are Steve Garrett, Class of 1975, and Robin Harley Garrett.
Sharon Garrett Sokolosky, Class of 1967, is Spencer’s great-aunt.

My thanks to Amanda Garrett Ice for that family information.
The secret to Spencer’s cabbage: Compost, manure and water.



Bonnie Plants narrowed the West Virginia list to five, including Spencer’s cabbage, and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture made the final selection.

Monongah Elementary is at 628 Walnut Street, not far from where Thoburn Elementary once ruled the landscape just off U.S. 19 near the PNA and Shenasky Grocery. Kimberly Higgins is the principal.

Bonnie Plants began in Union Springs, Alabama in 1912 when Bonnie and Livingston Paulk invested all they had ($50) in cabbage seeds. Today, Bonnie Plants are available in all 50 states plus Canada.

 
Garretts at Monongah High included Paulette Garrett Morgan, Class of 1965; Sharon Garrett Sokolosky, Class of 1967; Steven Garrett, Class of 1972; and Richard Garrett, in my Class of 1950.
 

 
 

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