As the cold weather starts to drift away, the thoughts of sunnier days and warmer weather fill us with excitement. This year, more than before, we are looking forward to welcoming Spring with a gardening project that will support local gardeners as they begin to plan out their crops for the upcoming season.

Casa de la Cultura is a recipient of the 2026 Garden Grant from Grow Appalachia.  With this award, we are excited to launch a gardening project Entre Plantas y Cultura (Between Plants and Culture) for the 2026 season. This program will feature free gardening support and educational and interactive workshops throughout the year with topics like planning and designing urban gardens, maintaining organic gardens, healthy cooking from your garden, food conservation, and many more.

Last October, Casa de la Cultura hosted a Seed and Plant Swap at the Marksbury Branch Library located in Lexington, KY. This was an opportunity to connect with local gardeners with various levels of expertise and exchange knowledge on medicinal herbs and gardening tips. The room was full of excitement as seeds were being traded and participants built their knowledge of plants, food systems, and cultural practices. This event bloomed out of conversations about the need for deeper cultural connection and intergenerational engagement in our communities and overall, the health and wellness benefits of gardening.

The intention of Entre Plantas y Cultura is rooted in being able to cultivate knowledge through hands-on learning to develop practical skills, no matter what level of gardening you have and take away barriers to start your own garden. Participants in the program will be required to attend workshops throughout the year and in exchange they will receive plants, seeds, fertilizer and tools, and most importantly support to grow their own food. The program is open to Lexington residents and areas within 60 miles.

As we get ready to welcome our participants in our upcoming March workshop, we look forward to seeing how our gardeners apply and exchange their knowledge and create meaningful connections with each other and cultivate a space filled with culture and community. To stay updated on this project and see what we are up to, follow us on Instagram and Facebook @casadelaculturaky.

Casa de la Cultura de Kentucky is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote Hispanic culture among the younger generation by offering programs, activities, and workshops in which we share traditions and work to enrich each person’s sense of wholeness to better develop self-esteem and pride in their cultural heritage. We work to make sure that Latino culture is recognized as part of Kentucky’s cultural heritage. To learn more about Casa de la Cultura, please visit www.casadelaculturaky.org.

Photo credit: Linelle Rivera Rodriguez