Volunteer Profile: Tom Watson

Tom Watson, garden volunteer

Come Garden with Tom! Saturday Morning Sessions Start This Year

Avid vegetable gardener Tom Watson, who grew up on a farm outside of Leesburg, has generously volunteered his time tending to Dodona’s gardens since 2020.

What attracted you to volunteer at Dodona?

With the onset of the pandemic, I had a lot less work to do and a lot of time on my hands. I had been on the tour of Dodona Manor several years before and while there saw a picture of General Marshall working in his garden. This picture reminded me of my grandfather, who greatly enjoyed growing tomatoes and was a colonel in the U.S. Army.

General Marshall working in the garden at Dodona

How would you describe your role at Dodona Manor?

Each year around mid-March I start a couple dozen tomatoes indoors in grow tents. I also started a variety of cucumbers, squash and pepper plants. During the growing season I work closely on the tomato plants using organic growing methods and employ a method of training and pruning the plants to maximize plant size and tomato production. It is not unusual for the plants to get to 10 feet high. Through this process, we have had yellow pear tomato plants produce well over 1,000 small, delicious tomatoes in a season, as well as beefsteak tomato plants producing dozens of large fruit.

Why do you think it is important to preserve and share the legacy of General Marshall?

General Marshall represents to me a life of service, discipline, compassion and nurturing. Gardening fits very well into living a life that meets those goals.

Which part of General Marshall’s life history resonates with you the most? Why?

He was a very busy person and gave so much of himself to others and this country. That he also made sure to spend time doing what he personally loved in the garden speaks to the importance of balance and finding healthy hobbies. I think his way of approaching life and service is a model many should follow.

Please share a story from your time volunteering.

I thought I would just come out and help out a bit and do some work. I had no idea it would result in such great relationships with others and give me a new community to be a part of. I am excited that we are trying to attract more volunteers to work in the garden and we will have a Saturday morning work session starting this year. I plan to be there each Saturday and encourage anyone who enjoys gardening or wants to learn about it to join us.

Starting April 2024, join Tom for open gardening days at Dodona Manor on the first and third Saturdays of each month during the growing season from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Thank you, Tom. We are grateful for all you do!