Community Corner
How Are Your Tomatoes?
You'd be hard-pressed to find anybody in town that's been gardening longer than Larry Picariello of Eastman Avenue.
If you see Larry Picariello around town, wish him a Happy Birthday. The Swampscott man will be 91 on September 3.
Picariello lives on Eastman Avenue with his daughter Patricia, in a home that’s been in the family for over 100 years.
“There were only 10-12 homes here, (off Essex Street) back then, now there are close to 65-70 in the neighborhood,” Picariello said.
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Larry’s backyard garden is filled with tomatoes, watermelons, cucumbers, zucchinis, parsley, squash and green beans.
“My growing season starts around Memorial Day and runs until the end of September,” Larry said. “I usually spend 10-15 hours a week in my garden.”
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Larry has his own water hydrant in his backyard to keep all his fruits and vegetables watered. His garden is smaller than it was a few years ago.
“I just sold a piece of land in the way back, so my garden is a little bit smaller than it used to be,” Picariello said. “Even though they’re called watermelons, they don’t really require much more water than any of my others fruits and vegetables.”
Larry started working for the in 1951, became the foreman in the early 1970’s and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1981.
PIcariello has six children and nine-grandchildren and when he’s not growing fruits and vegetables he enjoys a round or two of golf at the area's municipal golf courses and also makes a few hunting trips every year.
Larry served in the army and took part in the Omaha Beach military operations in June of 1944 to liberate France during World War II. Taking control of Omaha Beach was the responsibility of the U. S. Army with assistance from the U. S. Navy and England’s Royal Navy.
Larry met his wife Mary after getting out of the service. Mary grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey, and she couldn’t avoid heading to Swampscott with her husband after the pair got married.
“Oh, she had to come here, that’s where the old man lived, in Swampscott,” Picariello said.
Picariello’s children all live in the New England area, Mary passed away just over five years ago.
There aren’t too many people living near Larry that haven’t enjoyed one of his tomatoes or watermelons over the years.
"I enjoy eating and sharing what comes out of my garden," Larry said.
Larry said the keys to longevity are to eat healthy and stay active.
