Dirt on the strip: finding my “why” (through heat, humidity, and snap peas)

By Barbara LeForge, Golden Strip News Editor

If you walked into my kitchen right now, you’d see a scene that’s equal parts harvest haul and chaotic masterpiece: a heap of peppers, okra, and tomatoes, all anchored by a surprise 18-pound volunteer pumpkin I didn’t even plant, taking over the counter. (And, of course, enough soil on the floor to start an indoor potted plant.)

In the thick of a South Carolina August—when the humidity is so thick you can practically chew it and we’re all wrestling with stubborn Upstate red clay—people look at me sweating over a garden bed and ask, “Barbara, honey, why are you doing this to yourself when the grocery store has air conditioning?”

It’s a valid question. But to understand, you have to go back to the moment I got hooked.

It was a single leaf of garden-fresh lettuce. One bite, and my mind was blown. It was peppery and sweet, with a snap that could never be matched by store-bought lettuce. That was it. Game over. I was a woman obsessed.

Before long, that little dirt patch turned into my absolute sanctuary—and the site of some of my favorite family chaotic moments. My heart used to fill with so much joy watching my kids wander through the garden beds, popping sugar snap peas straight off the vine like candy. And I do mean everyone loved it—even the dogs were out there grazing like little four-legged livestock, stealing peas right off the plant! You haven’t truly lived until you’ve competed with a hound for fresh produce.

Eventually, the garden started producing more than my kitchen counter—or that giant pumpkin—could handle. That’s when the real magic happened. Passing extra vegetables over the fence to neighbors and loading up fresh bushels for local soup kitchens turned a backyard project into a deep, beautiful connection to our community. Feeding folks—whether it’s my crew around the kitchen table or a neighbor down the road—is just plain good for the soul.

(Pro-tip for my fellow okra growers out there: harvest those pods every single morning while they’re small and tender, before the South Carolina sun turns them into wooden stakes!)

So yes, it’s hot enough out here to fry an egg on a garden spade, and I’m pretty sure the weeds are growing in real-time. But every time I pull something fresh out of the earth and share it, I remember my “why.”

Whether you’re wrangling a full farm plot or just trying to keep a potted basil plant alive on the back porch, I hope you take a minute this week to sit in the shade, sip something cold, and enjoy your own little piece of the garden.

What’s taking over your kitchen counter this week? Got an unexpected volunteer pumpkin of your own, or an overabundance of tomatoes? Head over to our social media pages (@GoldenStripNews) and share your photos or garden wins with us in the comments—we’d love to see what’s growing in your yard!

About the Author

Barbara LeForge is a passionate storyteller, dedicated community leader, and active participant in the Mauldin community, where she serves as her neighborhood’s HOA board president. A former educator, Barbara now homeschools her four amazing children, balancing daily lessons with the vibrant chaos of a busy home. When she isn’t running community meetings or editing local news, you can find her tending to her backyard oasis as an experienced gardener or working on her next literary project as a published author. She loves sharing her practical tips, local insights, and a little Southern humor with her neighbors through her regular column space.