Jim Wilson writes about the hardships and the good times in Vicksburg, starting in 1931 and continuing through the Great Depression.

Wilson, now 83, lives in Columbia, Mo. He’s the author of 10 books on gardening and may be best known for the 10 years he spent as a presenter on the PBS series, “The Victory Garden.”

His memory of detail is remarkable – and readers are invited to converse with him by postal or e-mail methods.

His family moved to Memphis on his 15th birthday and after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor two years later, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps as soon as he turned 18, earned his wings and became an air-to-air gunnery instructor.

His 50-year horticulture career followed for the next years and he lived in 14 homes in nine states.

Today, he writes, lectures on gardens and gardening and has served as a guest speaker aboard river cruises which, from time to time, have brought him back to Vicksburg.

Contact him here: Jim Wilson 4200 E. Richland Road Columbia, MO. 65201

E-mail at gardengeezer@centurytel.net

October 8, 2008 – Changes, viewed from afar, have been impressive

October 1, 2008 – Water-centered activities common in the 1930s

September 24, 2008 – Good people made the hard times less severe

September 17, 2008 – It was a time of gar, charcoal, late-night radio

September 10, 2008 – Big mules needed to haul coal up from City Front

September 3, 2008 – Swimming was break from scrapping for cash

August 27, 2008 – String beans and ordnance were part of the routine

August 20, 2008 – Renting the Franco place bridged ‘Hard Times’

August 13, 2008 – Hobos were welcome, but scam artists were not

August 6, 2008 – Tailgate sales of garden goods sustained family

July 30, 2008 – Fires meant excitement, and devastation, too

July 23, 2008 – Search for work brought Wilsons back to Vicksburg