Meet Your Neighbor: Young Chung-Hall
By Ilona Merritt
It was a cool morning when I met Young in the Tillers & Toilers Garden. She radiated warmth and friendliness, and it turned out to be one of the most exciting and informative visits I have had the privilege to enjoy. Sherwin Green and his wife Kathleen Peoples introduced Young to us and called her a “Gardener Extraordinaire.” She is all of that and much more.
In 1979, Young Chung came to America from South Korea for the American dream to get an education and a good job. Her first husband felt that having a son to take care of was all she needed. Young disagreed with that and moved on. She went to work and night school. She worked hard at learning the English language. She started as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service after attending Cornell University Business School, and worked her way up to Manager for National Programs. She worked for them for 20 years, and then transferred to the IRS, where she worked another ten years and retired. She moved up in their ranks, and part of her job was speaking to hundreds of Americans, and her language skills were so important. She also learned American Sign Language.
She married Larry Hall in 2001, and in June 2017, they moved to SCC. She had never had time to garden, but the lack of finding fresh Asian vegetables got her interested in the Tillers and Toilers. Young decided to grow her Asian vegetables; she went to USF Continuing Education Programs, enrolled in the Florida Friendly Landscaping program, and learned about plants, soil, and the sun’s effect. She works in the garden and plans what she wants to grow and what season to plant. She starts with seeds in small containers at home and staggers their growth carefully. Young also includes flowers in her garden to attract Bees and Butterflies to pollinate the vegetable plants. She never uses chemicals in her garden.
Young enjoys cooking healthy meals and uses everything out of her garden. I finally found out what a Napa Cabbage looks like at our meeting before all the leaves had been taken off. There was a trellis loaded with Christmas Lima Beans, and I fell in love with her Moringa Tree. Besides being a tremendous source of nutrition, it also grows very artistic. She readily shares her harvest with friends. Her friends, Sherwin and Kathleen, said that Young is a very accomplished woman. Kathleen has not had such good luck gardening, but she and Young share recipes. Young also enjoys participating in Archery and loves Sun City Center and the Tiller and Toilers community.
March 2024 NEWS is HOT off the Press!
In this issue… Join the Weavers celebrating Distaff Day, get the latest from the LRPC, SAVE THE DATE for FunFest on March 9, meet the new SCCCA Activities Director, explore the Florida State Fair, fly with some eagles, meet a writer imparting...
February 2024 NEWS is HOT off the Press!
In this issue… Learn how Tampa General is fighting against human trafficking, put fins up with the Landsharks, see the new Historical Marker, enjoy Coffee and Communication, celebrate a Good Life with Walter, visit Yellowstone in the spring,...
January 2024 NEWS is HOT off the Press!
In this issue… Celebrate holiday fun in SCC, learn what the LRPC has planned for the new building project, meet the new CA Board members, get to know DOGs and turtles, skate with Disney on Ice, meet South Shore Authors, savor Ruskin seafood,...
December 2023 NEWS is HOT off the Press!
In this issue… Explore Christmas decorations in SCC, check out the National Lawn Bowling Tournament, meet friends at “Hi, Neighbor!”, read the detailed LRPC Report, commemorate Veterans Day, visit Jurassic Park, beware of scammers, find out why...
November 2023 NEWS is HOT off the Press!
Discover what the Long Range Planning Committee is working on, find out how folks cruise around SCC, hear from the candidates for CA Board of Directors, ring bells with DAR, support local kids, laugh with the Pelican Players, travel to…
October 2023 NEWS is HOT off the Press!
In this issue… Save the date for “Hi, Neighbor!”, cruise over to the SouthShore Sportsplex, see why a grant was awarded to the Boys & Girls Club, discover why an SCC woman took TOPS honors, meet an Angel on Earth, enjoy a Dramedy on Aging,...
0 Comments