Hidden in the deep, almost forgotten hollers and hills of Leslie County you will find lonesome rock fences and piles of rocks covered in moss hidden among the trees. One may find themself wondering why are they there. These are lasting reminders of homes filled with hardship and laughter and of gardens that nourished families as tough at the terrain itself. The homes have now long returned to nature, and tall trees stand where mothers once prepared supper and their children played. 

The first settlers in the region had a hard life. They had to figure out a way to provide for their families in this beautiful place. This always involved clearing the land of the seemingly endless rocks. Trees and brush also needed to be cleared to let the sunlight in to warm the earth, and remember this all had to be done by hand. Families were large in those days and everyone had a job to do. Even the smallest children had a job to do.

Gardening in Appalachia is a tradition that lives on today and embodies both the resilience and hope of the region’s communities. Despite the challenges posed by the rocky soil, Appalachian farmers have honed their skills and turned adversity into opportunity. Today farmers still turn to the earth to help provide healthy food for their families.

The tradition of gardening is deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of Leslie County, with families passing down seeds and stories for generations. It’s not unheard of for families to have seeds passed down for hundreds of years and carrying names particular to that family.

As spring awakens the land, it also stirs in the hearts of local farmers. They begin to work the land that their family has worked for generations. Plans for their gardens having been carefully planned out during the cold winter months.  In this way, spring gardening in Appalachia is not merely about growing plants; it is about nurturing a legacy.