So far, this role I have found myself in has been such a whirlwind. I have found myself picking up supplies from a few tried and true vendors, picking up plants from our grower, planning workshops, planning pickups, trying to go the extra mile if at all possible, etc…You know the drill!  It’s a lot! I have had intrusive thoughts, like, Oh what have I gotten myself into?…Can I really do this?…to I’m doing this thing!! Let’s Roll!! All over the place with it but then, I go back to center because I know deep down, with no shadows of any doubts that I am right where I am supposed to be. I’m u ..read more

Well, not quite yet! Since I was child I have been gardening albeit because I was forced to pull weeds, snap beans, and sling manure. You all know! There weren’t always happy moments, maybe there were never any, but somehow I find myself today out in the garden because of the happy place it is for me. I guess that’s what maturity brings! I am working towards an Orchard Oasis, with dreams of sweet smelling blooming trees to bask in the shade of. Meanwhile, I have a steep field with man tall briars, trees, and rocks the size of dinosaur vertebra to contend with. Sun, water, slope, air flow ..read more

Hello! I am going to dig a bit deeper with this blog as I’ve had some reflection as of recent that has influenced my perspective on creating an inclusive community of gardeners. I’m constantly searching for the perfect balance of efficiency, encouragement, and knowledge when it comes to being a program coordinator for a gardening program. Ask anyone and they’ll say it’s a challenging combo. How do we answer all the questions while still encouraging self sufficiency in the garden? How do we juggle our time to make sure we are able to be a support for gardeners without stretching out our own cap ..read more

In a world that often seems to run on a tight schedule, I confess that punctuality isn’t exactly my strong suit. The clock ticks, deadlines loom, yet somehow, I always find myself trailing a few minutes, or days behind. But amidst the hustle and bustle, there’s a beacon of light that never fails to brighten even my tardiest arrivals: Grow Appalachia. You see, my tardiness is forgiven when I see families flourishing with techniques I’ve had the privilege of teaching. This sight fills my heart with indescribable joy, a joy that transcends time and punctuality. Picture this: the sun casting its ..read more

Grow Sustinab-LEE is kicking into full gear again this spring for our third season of garden grants in Lee County, Virginia.  We have had quite a surge in participation this year, to the point where we took on extra participants and still have a waiting list for people to get into the program.  I am hopeful that this is a sign that people are starting to understand the value of growing their own food without the use of harsh chemicals. Grow Sustainab-LEE is a wonderful opportunity for people in Lee County Virginia who may need supplemental assistance getting their gardens started.&nb ..read more

A new season has begun and not just in the garden but also for the Cowan Community Action Group. Hello! My name is Abby Maggard and I am the new site coordinator at Cowan Community Action Group. I have a small flower farm on Big Branch in Viper, KY where my Dad always raised his garden. He was one of Cowan’s first Grow Appalachia participants. Cowan Grow Appalachia gave us the opportunity to take canning classes together among many other things that are memories I will cherish forever and I am honored to take on this role. Here at Cowan we have had some really great workshops including Garden ..read more

It is a beautiful day in West Virginia, the sun is shining bright, no rain or wind. If the weather stays like today, the gardeners will be putting seeds in the ground. We are anxious to get in the dirt and plant those seeds and watch them grow and enjoy them when we can eat. Most everyone cannot wait for tomatoes and green beans. My favorite is peas cooked with new potatoes. We have received our potatoes and fertilizer and just about everyone has theirs in the ground. We are waiting for more supplies to arrive any day, so we can distribute more to the gardeners. They are very anxious to start ..read more

Spring has sprung around here.  Wisteria, redbuds, and dogwoods are all in bloom, trees are happily leafing out, and gardeners are happily planting their gardens. Potatoes and early spring crops have been planted, and some who started seeds indoors now have peas 12” high. Tomatoes, peppers, and broccoli plants have been started by one of our gardeners to be handed out in early May, and we are expecting sweet potato slips any day. One of our gardeners who recently passed away was a devout seed saver, who loved trying different varieties of plants and saved the seeds from year to year with ..read more

  The Northfork Local Food Grow Appalachia Garden Program jumped into March and April feet first!  Participants were able to welcome Spring with cabbage, kale, Brussel sprouts, collards, pea seeds, onion sets, seed potatoes, and fertilizer!  We were overjoyed to offer a community seed swap during our March meeting – THANK YOU to our member, Kendra Dixon, for donating a literal BOX filled with a variety of seeds!  Diane Whitehead, who initiated our community seed swap, provided cookies and apple cider (which was a welcome warm up on what ended up being a VERY cold day). Our ..read more

This month has started out very good for us here at St. Vincent Mission, we have been able to help with fencing for 6 families. I had one of my participants write me a small story about here move here to the Appalachia’s. My name is Ginger and I moved to Southeast Kentucky with my family in 2023. We left behind several large gardens and arrived here on raw rocky mountain land. We brought with us a ton of dreams, our chickens, rabbits, pots of herbs, baby trees and flowers to use here. It was daunting to think of starting over but we are thrilled to be making our home here. Our f ..read more