Braden Kammerer, of Fort Dodge, knows this very well. His love for gardening was sparked when he was just 7 years old when he would help his grandparents in the plot they rented in a community garden. He’d help plant the green bean seeds and carry the water jugs to water the plants.

Now, the 13-year-old Fort Dodge Middle School student does it all himself — mostly. He and his mom, Brooke Kammerer, have rented a plot in the community garden near the Fort Dodge Industrial Park for the past couple years.

“I think Braden has really enjoyed it because there are so many other plots out there and we’ve gotten to know some of the older families that have gardens out there,” Brooke Kammerer said. “They’ve been able to give us tips and we can ask questions and Braden likes that, the learning. I think that’s been kind of fun.”

There, they grow peppers, tomatoes, sweet and regular potatoes, zucchini, squashes, cucumbers, green beans, huckleberries and more.

-Submitted photo
Braden Kammerer, 13, holds up a freshly-picked head of cauliflower from his garden in the community garden near the Fort Dodge Industrial Park last summer.

Huckleberries aren’t a very common staple in central Iowa gardens, but the Kammerers like growing them to have in pies at the end of the season.

Braden Kammerer loves the process of planting onions and enjoys watching the peas and peppers grow.

“You can see the progress and it’s kind of cool,” he said. “Squash is fun to grow, too.”

Throughout the growing season, the Kammerers harvest their produce as it becomes ripe. They keep some to eat and cook with, give some to friends and family and donate the rest.

“It’s a nice hobby to do and it allows me to spend time with my mom,” Braden Kammerer said. “And the food you would grow is much better than what you’d buy at a store. And hard work is really fun to do sometimes.”

-Submitted photo
Braden Kammerer, 13, plants his onion bulbs in nice, neat rows in his garden last summer.

Braden Kammerer’s love of gardening landed him a small feature in a gardening show on Iowa PBS in February. His segment on “Gardening with Steil,” hosted by Aaron Steil on Iowa PBS, covered developing a green thumb from a young age.

The opportunity came last fall when Braden’s Douglas Dreamers 4-H Club leader Linda Cline suggested that he submit some video clips of him talking about his garden to IPBS. IPBShad sent some questions for him to answer on the clips and he included some more information of his own as well.

“It’s kind of weird, but it’s really cool in retrospect,” Braden Kammerer said of being on television.

On the show, Braden Kammerer talked about how now he’s enjoying learning how to cook with the foods he grows in his garden — especially his papa’s zucchini pancakes, which he’s shared the recipe for with The Messenger.

The video that Braden Kammerer is featured in is on the Iowa Public Television website at https://www.iowapbs.org/video/story/38217/gardening-steil-2-pledge-special. His clip begins round the one hour and 14-minute mark. The video will be available for free online until April 21.

-Submitted photo
Green onions planted by Braden Kammerer, 13, last summer sprout up.

Papa’s Zucchini Pancakes

2 cups grated zucchini

2 large eggs slightly beaten

2 tablespoons chopped green onion

-Submitted photo
Braden Kammerer, 13, plants rows of vegetables in his garden plot at a community garden near the Fort Dodge Industrial Park last summer.

1/2 cup all-purpose flour (can be gluten free)

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 pinch dried oregano

-Submitted photo A harvest of green onions grown by Braden Kammerer, 13, piles up last summer.

1/4 cup vegetable oil

Directions

Blot grated zucchini with paper towels to remove moisture. Stir zucchini, eggs, and onion in a large bowl. Mix flour, Parmesan cheese, baking powder, salt and oregano in a separate bowl. Stir mixture into zucchini until batter is moistened.

Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Drop rounded spoonfuls of batter into hot oil. Pan fry until golden, about 2-3 minutes per side.

Eat with syrup, applesauce, or sour cream!