GreenThumbs

Scott Roper has a long-standing tradition of involving his grandchildren in helping with his garden. Five years ago, he proudly brought along Lennox Burke for a ride on his tractor.

Scott Roper has a long-standing tradition of involving his grandchildren in helping with his garden. Five years ago, he proudly brought along Lennox Burke for a ride on his tractor.

Bountiful harvest

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Scott Roper's garden: a product of hard work and what Roper attributes to help from God. East Buffalo – Sundays and Wednesdays are not the only busy days of the week for Scott Roper, pastor of Lone Oak Baptist Church.
Raymond Norton fell in love with farming at an early age. Retirement has only given him more time to work at the hobby he loves. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Raymond Norton fell in love with farming at an early age. Retirement has only given him more time to work at the hobby he loves. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Life on the farm

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, July 24, 2025
* 4th in a 5-part series Mill Creek – If you are a farmer in Graham County, there is a good chance Raymond Norton is a familiar name.  Norton has been farming and helping farmers of Graham County for 55 years, with 30 years spent working for the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Office.
Gardening has been a lifelong love for Bear Creek resident Jean Taylor. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Gardening has been a lifelong love for Bear Creek resident Jean Taylor. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Big garden, big heart

Latresa Phillips
Monday, July 21, 2025
Bear Creek – Jean Taylor can be described as an experienced gardener, an entrepreneur and someone who preserves history.  “I’ve experienced gardening since before I started school,” Taylor said.
Hugh Orr has a full-time job, tending five gardens in the East Buffalo community. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Hugh Orr has a full-time job, tending five gardens in the East Buffalo community. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

1 man, 5 gardens

Latresa Phillips
Friday, July 11, 2025
East Buffalo – What started out as a hobby for Hugh Darold Orr has turned into a full-time job.  For the past 25 years of retirement, Orr has enjoyed planting a garden or two and watching it grow. He shares with neighbors and friends.
Even at the age of 87, James Crisp works with his wife Sara to raise a garden each year that catches the eye of anyone who turns onto Mill Creek Circle. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Even at the age of 87, James Crisp works with his wife Sara to raise a garden each year that catches the eye of anyone who turns onto Mill Creek Circle. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Bountiful blessings

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, July 3, 2025
Mill Creek – Just off Tallulah Road, you will find the home of James and Sara Crisp.  You don’t have to see their name on the mailbox to know you have arrived at their residence.
Keeping a garden has been a way of life for Mitch Rogers since he was a teenager. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Keeping a garden has been a way of life for Mitch Rogers since he was a teenager. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Deeply rooted

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, July 11, 2024
* 2nd in a 4-part series Sweetwater – From the time Mitch Rogers was around 15, he has been able to run a digging plow. He remembers helping his grandfather Bill Marr on their farm on Sweetwater.  Fast forward 55 years and you will still find Rogers in the garden.
Cheset and Jeremy Williams have carefully sculpted the side of a mountain in Graham County to become their single source for food. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Cheset and Jeremy Williams have carefully sculpted the side of a mountain in Graham County to become their single source for food. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Livin’ off the land

Latresa Phillips
Saturday, July 6, 2024
* 1st in a 4-part series Yellow Creek – It all started with chickens.  In 2020 – when the world was on standby, thanks to the COVID pandemic – Jeremy and Cheset Williams decided it was time to make healthier choices in their diet, and bought a few chickens.
After a lot of brainstorming, ground was first broken on the Graham County EMS garden earlier this year. From left are Bob Keber, Travis Chastain, David Maennle, Drew Silvers and Cameron Wiggins. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

After a lot of brainstorming, ground was first broken on the Graham County EMS garden earlier this year. From left are Bob Keber, Travis Chastain, David Maennle, Drew Silvers and Cameron Wiggins. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

New way of delivering aid

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, July 27, 2023
* Conclusion of a 4-part series West Fort Hill – Our gardens are often a place of mediation, therapy or healing. Whether the end results be amazing or disappointing, there are no mistakes, only experiments.
Marie’s Lavender Farm’s Sue Huskey stands proudly in front of a recently-hung crop on the grounds of the Yellow Creek establishment. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Marie’s Lavender Farm’s Sue Huskey stands proudly in front of a recently-hung crop on the grounds of the Yellow Creek establishment. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

In full bloom

Latresa Phillips
Monday, July 24, 2023
Lavender has been used to reduce stress and anxiety, as well as a method of treatment for neurological conditions. * Third in a 4-part series Yellow Creek – When Sue and Ken Huskey discovered Graham County, they not only discovered a new place to call home, but they discovered a new calling.
Pat and Betty Satterfield’s 6-year-old grandson Quincy has already shown he is wise beyond his years, lending a helping hand all around Satterfield’s Briarpatch Greenhouse & Nursery – but not without his faithful friends Rosie and Rattler by his side. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Pat and Betty Satterfield’s 6-year-old grandson Quincy has already shown he is wise beyond his years, lending a helping hand all around Satterfield’s Briarpatch Greenhouse & Nursery – but not without his faithful friends Rosie and Rattler by his side. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Plannin’ ahead

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, July 6, 2023
* First in a 4-part series Tallulah – Twenty years ago, Pat and Betty Satterfield started out with the frame of a greenhouse covered with a tarpaulin. That year, they earned enough money to construct the greenhouse and add another for the next season.