Year Five

I began my fifth year as a Grow Appalachia Coordinator this year, and I have to say this has been my best spring yet. The response to the program has been tremendous, and I am still getting requests to join this far into the season. The members I work with are amazing, and every meeting has been packed full. Sometimes I even have to bring out extra chairs.

The image shows a large gathering of Grow Appalachia members at their monthly meeting.

What I Love

From the very beginning, one of my favorite things about Grow Appalachia has been the pride members show and the confidence that gardening builds. Watching a tiny seed or little plant grow after placing it into the soil with your own hands feels almost magical. There is something deeply rewarding about nurturing a garden and seeing the results of your hard work come to life.

My email inbox and Facebook Messenger have been flooded with photos and happy messages from members sharing how well their gardens are doing. Seeing their excitement and success is one of the most rewarding parts of this program.

The image shows peas in the garden that are almost ready to harvest.Cabbage plants growing in a container.

Problems, Not So Much

I also appreciate how willing members are to reach out when they run into problems in the garden. Recently, one member sent photos showing damage caused by slugs. I recommended an organic product to help manage the issue, and later she happily reported that the problem had been solved.

The image shows damage on cabbage plants from sluggs.

Another member has been dealing with a mystery animal digging around plants and eating flower bulbs. At my suggestion, she has started setting out a trail camera in hopes of catching the culprit in the act. Gardening always seems to come with a few surprises along the way.

So far, we have not had too many major issues this season, and that has made this spring even more enjoyable.

Next month, I will begin doing garden visits, and I truly cannot wait. Visiting members’ gardens, hearing their stories, and seeing the hard work they have put into growing food for their families is one of the highlights of this job. Every season reminds me why I love being part of Grow Appalachia and the incredible communities it serves.