By Kristin Hogans | The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — The summer drought is raining on Alonzo Brown’s vegetable parade, but the Marblestone Road resident isn’t letting it get him down.

Dry conditions have halted Brown’s gardening, for now, but Brown still had plenty of praise for the crop last week when The Dart landed near his house.

Brown spends much of his free time in his garden, a hobby he picked up from his father when he was young.

Brown has been in a garden since he was old enough to remember.

“My daddy did it, so I decided to do it. I don’t have anything else to do,” Brown said.

Brown said he likes to do it all himself, because if someone else does his work, it won’t come out right.

In the garden he grows tomatoes, bell peppers and red peppers. He said it saves a lot of money because he doesn’t have to purchase many of his foods from the store.

The gardener prefers fresh from the yard more than straight from the grocery aisle any day, he said.

“It just don’t taste the same,” Brown said.

Brown said he and his wife like to cook with the vegetables, especially when their grandchildren are with them. Brown said his favorite meal with the vegetables was a mayonnaise and tomato sandwich.

“You take a piece of bread, put some mayonnaise on it, cut up a couple pieces of tomato, add a little salt and pepper, and there you go,” Brown said.

Brown said he would rather eat that meal over meat any day.

His garden produces enough vegetables that Brown frequently freezes them to share with family members, who all appreciate the fresh from the garden taste as much as Brown, he said.

As soon as the weather allows, Brown is headed back into the garden.