John Gomery.(back talk: DISHING THE DIRT WITH CANADA'S GARDENERS)(Interview)

FOR MUCH OF THE PAST TWO YEARS, Justice John H. Gomery has held one of the dirtiest jobs in Canada. As Commissioner of Inquiry into the now-infamous federal sponsorship program, the 73-year-old Montreal-born jurist has had to wade through the muck of the biggest political scandal to tantalize this country in decades. With the release this winter of his much-anticipated report on the affair, his official role will come to an end, giving him much more time for another kind of muck--the one on his farm southwest of Montreal, to which he retires for frequent bouts of weeding and hoeing. "During the growing season, I putter as often as possible, but at times other tasks intrude," he told Gardening Life recently. Talk about understatement.

How long have you been gardening? I have been gardening all my life. When my grandfather planted a "victory garden" during the Second World War, I helped him, learning the joys of growing vegetables in the process. I've never recovered.

Where is your garden located? At our farm in [the Quebec hamlet of] Havelock, we have two vegetable gardens, which are my projects. My wife, Pierrette, is in charge of the flower gardens, but we both pitch in generally.

What are the sizes of your gardens? I have two potagers, both about 12 by 20 feet (3.7 by six metres). One is in full sun; the other, for lettuce and ...