June 30. There’s a young man on Shevington Drive who has a green thumb. Eight-year-old Andrew Tarkovich is growing tomato plants that are almost seven feet tall and it’s not even July. Andrew’s plants are just about tall enough for a photo spread in National Tomato Journal.

Andrew is the son of Jodi and Kevin Tarkovich. The family garden has sweet corn, green beans, squash, peppers, radishes, asparagus and lettuce as well.

“We have been growing our own vegetables for the past 10 years and what we don’t eat, we give to our family members and friends, and always take care of our neighbors,” Jodi says.

Andrew is a rising second-grader at JV Washam Elementary who likes growing his own food “because it tastes better!” Andrew says when he grows up he wants to study sharks and be a police officer. He has also raised rabbits, ducks, chickens and turkeys.

Andrew’s summer plans include a family beach trip, the Yogi Bear Jellystone Park camping resort, several visits to the family cabin in Virginia and a trip to Pennsylvania.