A couple with a passion for gardening has made use of an overabundance of vegetables.

Tom and Katrena Young, natives of Prince Edward County, give much of what they grow each year to FACES food pantry. Tom, born in Farmville, and Katrena, from Elam, have lived in many places throughout the United States before coming back to Prince Edward to retire.

“Been here 23 years and over 10 years we’ve been giving,” said Katrena, 83.

“The lines started getting a little longer and we were growing a little bit more each year,” Tom added, explaining how they saw a need and were happy to help fill it.

Katrena said for many years they would help with the bagging of the food as well.

The two enjoy tending to their gardens, which have grown quite large on each side of their home.

“We grow just about everything,” Katrena said. “Tomatoes, peppers, butter beans, asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, green beans, are the basic things we give to FACES.”

“Asparagus is the first thing we get, so people are hungry for it,” said Tom, 85.

Though the frost has depleted much of what was in the garden, cabbage, broccoli, collards and lettuce continue to thrive.

They said this year, their neighbors got a lot of their products. Katrena loves to share with the community. They all want her to adopt them as her children, she said.

Katrena said they never sell their vegetables.

“That’s why we give to FACES. That helps a lot of people,” Tom added. “Last year, we gave a ton. This year, we gave all the tomatoes and green beans. About a hundred pounds or so.”

Katrena was sad to note the pair was not able to donate corn this year.

“Before it got ripe the raccoons got it and it ruined it,” she explained. “We didn’t get to give any to FACES.”

Between the two of them, Tom and Katrena handle all the gardening themselves. Tom does the heavy lifting while Katrena picks the plants and other tasks that require bending down.

Throughout the year, Katrena freezes or cans much of what isn’t given to friends, family and FACES. The pair especially likes to use the Prince Edward County Cannery for food such as soups and tomato juice. They can enough tomato juice each year so Tom can drink one every morning with breakfast.

Once winter fully begins and the ground has completely frozen, the pair will put the gardens to sleep until another year of growing vegetables for the community.