My first year in Build It Up has been such a rewarding experience! When I joined the program, the only knowledge of growing food I had was in containers. I knew I wanted to gain more experience in organic gardening and this program offers a great foundation to do just that.
I’ve learned that growing your own food isn’t as hard as it appears. There were many times throughout the spring and summer growing season where life got busy and the garden still thrived. Planting a seed, caring for it daily/weekly, and then waiting 2 to 4 months to see the fruits of your labor teaches you a lot about things like patience and discipline as well.
This year, I found a lot of joy in growing collard greens and cabbage. They are two of my favorite greens to eat so being able to grow them successfully was quite a treat! I also had success in growing carrots, tomatoes, and jalapeños. My family and I have been eating the carrots fresh, adding the tomatoes to pasta salads and burgers, and I have been storing the jalapeños until I have enough to make something fun with them!
Gardening can be hard in some ways too. As I mentioned before, if life is busy for you, it can be hard to get out there and tend to the garden everyday. My garden kind of ran wild with weeds, despite my best efforts to stay on top of mulching! Pests can also prove to be an issue as well. There were a couple crops that were sacrificed because I missed some eggs on the underside of the leaves. I hope to maintain a better schedule next season to stay on top of things like this!
Overall, gardening is a very beautiful experience. I love that this has caused me to get outside more. Also, my fear of bugs has decreased quite a bit. It was amazing to realize I can get in the garden and work next to bees and wasps without being harmed. I am more able to recognize which insects are helpers and are working in harmony with my garden. Gardening has been a great bonding moment as well. Getting to share my harvest with friends and family members, and working on the garden with my parents has been a memorable experience.
I look forward to expanding my garden for the next growing season so that I can continue to try new crops, learn new skills, share with family, and maybe even share with the community on a bigger scale. Build It Up is a great program for anyone interested in growing food and looking for community!
~ Lawren Smith