"Everybody said we couldn't do it, with the herds of deer," Nadine said recently. "There will be maybe six deer in the yard at a time, and they are smart."

But the gardening couple has foiled the deer, so far.

"Until they can open the gate and walk through, we're OK," Nadine explained. A vigilant system of fencing - liquid and solid - has allowed the Fergusons' garden to flourish.

The first line of de-fence is a split-rail number. Then there are tall metal fence poles every 6 feet or so with nearly invisible deer mesh attached. Finally, there's a regular regime of Liquid Fence rabbit and deer repellant that's sprayed around the perimeter.

Ronald said the key is spraying the deer repellent prior to planting to establish the boundaries of the garden. He sprays the somewhat-smelly liquid liberally throughout the yard, protecting flowers and shrubs as well as the large vegetable garden. There are several old and a couple of new Golden Delicious apple trees and a stand of blueberry bushes that also get sprayed with Liquid Fence.

This plot is truly a family adventure. The 1965 house originally belonged to Nadine's father, who prepared the soil for years. "There's not a rock in it," Nadine said.

Her father died in 2003, and the garden lay fallow until the Fergusons moved in last September. The couple had lived in Elkview, where they gardened extensively as well.

Their 6-year-old granddaughter, Evie, joins them in the garden every chance she gets. "She'll come over after school, and go straight into the house to change clothes so she can help me in the garden," Ronald said.

She likes to wear a cap just like her grandpa as they work side by side.

"She helps me to plant and pick, and she helps her grandmother with the canning as well."

Ronald usually spends two or more hours in the garden each day, but additionally he's kept busy helping contractors with an addition they are putting on the house. He's thankful for the rainy summer because he's only had to water twice.

The soil in the plot is rich with nutrients. In the fall, Ronald pulls out the plants, plows, adds manure, plows again and plants winter rye. He plows that under in the spring, and the process produces amazingly fertile soil.

There are five kinds of corn, bell peppers, potatoes, carrots, pumpkins, cucumbers, yellow and zucchini squash, Big Boy tomatoes and rocdor beans. The prolific plants produce beans that are long and yellow, with no strings, and turn green when canned. Nadine cans without salt, because the Fergusons generously provide beans for dinner once a month at their church, Elk Hills Presbyterian, and several members of the congregation can't eat salt.

The Fergusons are retired schoolteachers, Ronald from high school and Nadine from several Elkview-area grade schools. Their children, Matthew and his wife Andrea (Evie's parents), and Lewis, also benefit from the garden. Evie obviously loves her time with her grandparents. Lewis, who works at the Clay Center, regularly brings excess produce to his co-workers.

Sara Busse of Charleston is a Master Gardener. She may be e-mailed at sjbu...@gmail.com.