As the sarvisberry and redbuds begin to bloom, the promise of springtime finally begins to feel real. The participants in the Bullskin Creek Grow Appalachia site have certainly felt the pull that comes with each new gardening season, and have been busy getting ready for the coming year.

Luckily, our weather has been relatively cooperative so far this season. This spring in the mountains of the Kentucky has been a bit warmer than usual, with less rain and snow than we’d typically expect. We’ve had adequate moisture for folks to get early crops planted (like the traditional Valentine’s Day peas), but it hasn’t been so wet that it kept folks out of the fields. This has been especially important for those folks who were establishing gardens from scratch. The first year after breaking sod in a new plot always has unforeseen challenges, but those hurdles are even higher when your new garden promptly begins resembling a mud pie.

As a site coordinator, one of the most heartening things that I’ve seen so far has been the way in which the participants at Bullskin Creek have come together. Many of the farmers already know each other, but there are also quite a few new relationships being formed and old friendships being renewed. And while we’re all looking forward to the harvest of fresh vegetables throughout the season, we are already reaping the fruits of growing our community.