Grow Appalachia

It's free!

People who participate learn how to grow healthy plants without using pesticides. They learn about companion planting, succession planting and crop rotation.  Start in February, end in October.

​

Everyone who participates gets a garden tool, seeds, starter plants, seedling potatoes, organic chicken (litter fertilizer) and a rototiller is also available for borrowing.

​

People who participate agree to do four things:

1. Attend planned workshops in spring, summer and fall.

2. Submit a soil sample from your garden plot at the first workshop.

3. Develop a garden plan at the first workshop.

4. Report the number of pounds of produce they harvested.

              

What are the workshops?

1. Garden Planning (Feb)

Learn and discuss crop rotation, companion planting, succession planting.  You draw your plan for your garden plot and fill out a form for the kinds of seeds and starter plants you would like to grow. Bring your soil sample from your garden plot. It will be sent to WVU Extension to be tested for nutrients.(nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, potassium and PH). WVU will send back a report with advice about what you can do to maximize your soil vitality.

​

2. Garden Planting (March)

We'll talk about ways and reasons to use organic fertilizer. We'll cover planting instructions for different plants.  You receive starter plants and organic fertilizer based on garden footage. Seed potatoes will be handed out, as available. 

​

3. Garden Maintenance (May)

You'll receive your garden tool. We'll discuss the dangers of pesticides (Sevin is not your friend). Identify common garden pests and how to deal with them, Compare pruning, hoeing, and weeding techniques. Learn when to add fertilizer (soil amendment).

​

4. Healthy Heart Cooking (Tentative May-August)

People love this. A seasoned cook shows you how to use garden produce to make delicious, inexpensive food. Foods people have never tried are mixed in with things from garden, with different recipes every year. Info about Type 2 Diabetes is woven into the presentation.  Recipes will be available, and, if available, winter vegetable seeds.

​

5. Food Preservation. (August / Sept)

This session is delivered by WVU Extension. We'll discuss the merits of freezing, canning, and drying food. Then, we will store some food, usually salsa and cucumbers.  

​​