David's Garden and More™

Welcome to David's Garden and More, where you will find products fresh from the garden into the jar, just like Grandmother's. I grew up in Tucker, Georgia, graduated from Tucker High School and Georgia State University. Not long ago, I retired after working in the corporate and education worlds for years and began to spend more time in the garden, a lifelong adventure. David's Garden began as the result of a bumper crop of cucumbers and a pickle recipe. With encouragement from family and friends, I began selling pickles using that recipe which has been in my family for generations and turned an adventure into a business. Thomas Jefferson, our third president, and I share the same grandfather. Thomas Jefferson II, is my seventh great grandfather and President Thomas Jefferson's grandfather. These two men influenced generations with their love of gardening.

My Great Grandfather George W. Chewning, paternal grandmother's side of the family, lived and farmed in Pea Ridge, which later became known as the Rehoboth Community in DeKalb County, Georgia. He sold and delivered produce from his garden. By doing so, he supported Consumer Supported Agriculture programs long before the term CSA was coined. I'm following in his footsteps as a natural progression of generations of family natural and organic growing and providing delicious foods.

When you taste David's Garden products the first word that comes out of your mouth is usually WOW. You can find David's Garden products at Local Farmers Markets and here on the website. You'll find instructions for ordering and shipping, CSA pick up sites, and market locations with dates and times.

I remember my father sharing with me about times he spent with his Grandfather, George Chewning. When Dad was about four or five years old, he would often ride with his grandfather in the flatbed wagon to deliver vegetables to his customers in DeKalb County, Georgia. The wagon was pulled by the mule, Jake. This particular day, Dad's mother had specifically told him stay with her instead of going with his Grandfather to deliver the vegetables. Dad was determined to go anyway and hid in the back of the wagon amongst the baskets of vegetables. Grandfather Chewning knew that the trip in the wagon was one that my Dad couldn't resist. After traveling several miles with Dad hidden in the back of the wagon, he called back to him to come out of hiding and sit beside him on the wagon seat. Much to Dad's delight he scrambled up and onto the front seat to get away from his very bumpy and uncomfortable hiding place.

As the day continued, Dad watched in awe as Jake stopped at certain houses so Grandfather Chewning could deliver the vegetables. When the customer's houses were located within walking distance from each other, Grandfather would walk alongside the wagon rather than climbing into his seat to direct Jake. Without fail, Jake would stop in front of the right house and Grandfather would walk to the back of the wagon and reach in to get the customers baskets and place them on their porches. Jake had made this trip so many times that he knew the route. Once a month Grandfather would return to collect the payment for vegetables, Jake remembered where they had dropped off the goods and stopped at each house without any directions or signals from Grandfather. My Dad was amazed at how smart Jake was and loved to feed apples to that mule. My Dad had a special relationship with his grandfather and Jake and much of their time together revolved around gardening.

I have many fond memories of gardening with my Grandfather Bugg, who was known as Daddy Bugg. Once, when I was about three or four years old, Daddy Bugg was pulling me through the strawberry patch as I sat inside his red wagon. I reach down to pick a big red berry that looked so inviting that I could not resist. Much to my surprise, I pulled the strawberry and the entire plant out of the ground. Daddy Bugg, who was watching me very closely, saw what I had done. He was just as surprised as I was when the plant was in my hand. He quickly reached down and stopped me from destroying the plant while trying to get to the berry. In a very loving and grandfatherly voice, he said "David, don't pull the plant out of the ground, just pick the strawberry off the plant," and proceeded to show me how. He returned the plant to its proper place in the patch. I thought that because I had pulled up the plant, roots and all, that I would not get to eat that big red juicy berry. Much to my delight, Daddy Bugg gave me the berry and to this day I can still remember its sweet delicious flavor. I miss Daddy Bugg and the wonderful adventures he and the rest of my family shared.

The love of gardening continues to the next generation as my son has memories of time spent in my father's garden, as well as in my garden. Now, I enjoy making memories with my three grandsons while spending time in the garden. We dig in the dirt together and enjoy watching the plants grow and bear fruit. They especially enjoy watching the blackberry and blue berry bushes bloom and develop fruit. They can't wait to pick ripe berries and so we can enjoy them together.

david@davidsgardenandmore.com