NATCHEZ — James Huff is proud of what he has grown.

For years, he has kept a garden of tomatoes, squash, figs, okra and onions, to name a few, in a small rectangle of land beside his house.

“I grow ‘em to eat ‘em,” he said, “And there is some pretty good food that comes out of that land.”

When The Dart landed on Briarwood Road in Natchez Saturday, Huff was relaxing with his wife Patricia Anne after going to a family reunion in Vidalia earlier in the day.

At the reunion, he took along some of the fruits of his gardening labors.

“I brought some of my tomatoes and squash over there,” he said. “And everybody was wondering what my secret is. I said ‘I ain’t got any secrets, I just work.’ ”

When looking back on his 85 years of life, Huff said he wouldn’t change a thing.

“I’ve done a lot of things,” he said.

Throughout his life he has picked up and dropped hobbies, time and time again. All the while, he has felt the same kind of pride he does for his garden.

“I used to own horses, but I sold those,” he said. “I used to own a boat for fishing, but I sold that. I used to hunt, but I don’t anymore.

“The good Lord has blessed me. How many people do you know that are 85 years old and can still work a garden?” he said. “I can.”

Huff has been married to Patricia Anne for 65 years.

“I learned to say ‘yes ma’am, you’re right’ and that takes all the fight out of it,” he said. “That’s what I tell all the young kids.”

Together they raised five children.

Huff worked at International Paper Co. for 37 and one half years and is quick to point out that he put four of his five children through college.

“And Kenneth (his second oldest son) didn’t want to go,” Huff said. “He didn’t need to. He’s done real well for himself…They’ve all done real well.”