We’ve been working hard growing all our starts for the season at the Virginia Highlands Community College Greenhouse.

 

We have a great crew out there.  Several regulars, including Hannah Claytnor of Emory and Henry College, and Debbie McVey, a  recent retiree with a love of plants.

 

We couldn’t do the volume that we do without some guest appearances as well. Girls from the Bristol YWCA worked with us last season, and will be working with us several times throughout this season as well. Below are photos from a great day we had in the greenhouse, giving the girls a tour and transplanting and trimming our onion starts, potting on marigolds that we will give out for pest management, and general greenhouse help. Most of the girls had never been in a greenhouse before or been around so many strange plants. I appreciate that through Grow Appalachia we can grow food for people and also provide a meaningful time for such a wonderful group of girls.  –Heather

 

Bristol YWCA girls dedicated

Bristol YWCA girls dedicated

super absorbed.

super absorbed.

Debbie in potting shed

Debbie in potting shed

The two smallest girls in the group carried the bucket of water to the wheelbarrow for the soil mix.

The two smallest girls in the group carried the bucket of water to the wheelbarrow for the soil mix.

Deni talks about the two different onions Grow Your Own folks will receive--Walla Walla and Copra

Deni talks about the two different onions Grow Your Own folks will receive–Walla Walla and Copra

a stow-away carrot was in the onion flats.

a stow-away carrot was in the onion flats.

Hannah in potting shed

Hannah in potting shed

girls mix soil or "brownie batter"

girls mix soil or “brownie batter”

excited about marigolds

excited about marigolds