Welcome to Grow Sustainab-LEE!

This week, we kicked off our organic gardening program with an exciting first class! It was wonderful to see so many eager faces ready to embark on the journey of growing fresh, healthy food using sustainable practices. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or brand new to the world of organic growing, this program is designed to provide the knowledge and skills you need to cultivate a thriving garden.

A Warm Welcome

While there are many varied reasons to garden organically, we came together for this first class to learn about planning an organic garden. Some participants were motivated by the desire to eat healthier, while others were looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact. No matter the reason, everyone in our program shares a common goal: to learn and grow together!

Planning Your Organic Garden

After settling in, we jumped into the class topic: planning an organic garden. Thoughtful planning is the key to success; listed below are several essential steps to ensure that our gardens will be both productive and sustainable. Here are some of the key takeaways:

  • Site Selection: Choosing the right location is crucial. In order to have a productive garden, you must take into account factors such as sunlight, soil quality, and accessibility to water. A spot with at least six hours of sunlight and good drainage is ideal.
  • Garden Layout: Whether using raised beds, containers, or traditional in-ground rows, our program covers several different layout options that maximize space and efficiency.
  • Soil Preparation: Healthy soil is the foundation of an organic garden. During the program, we will cover topics such as the importance of composting, soil testing, and adding organic matter to improve fertility and structure.
  • Choosing What to Grow: We encouraged participants to consider their climate, space, and personal preferences when selecting crops. We also provide information on companion planting and crop rotation to promote biodiversity and soil health.

Looking Ahead

Now that our participants know more about what to plant and why, our next class will focus on planting the garden.  It can be confusing to understand how deep to plant your seeds and transplants and how far apart each plant should be.  We hope to erase any confusion about planting in order to give the gardens their best chance at survival.

For those who are more advanced or for the adventurous beginners,  will also take some time to help demystify selling at a farmer’s market.  It is our wish to give our participants the knowledge and confidence to sell their organic produce.  There is no time like the present to start planning for the year at market.

We can’t wait to see your garden plans take shape and to find our which participants might want to sell at the local farmer’s market.  We hope everyone is successful enough to have enough produce to share or sell as each situation allows. We would like to extend a thank you to those who attended and we look forward to working with you all this year.  Happy gardening! 🌱