An empty lot sat vacant a few blocks from our home. Weeds grew over old, junky appliances, and trash littered the ground, under little tufts of wildflowers. Walking by the flat, wide space, I imagined the vibrant garden I would create, if it were mine. The raised beds, the in-ground rows of vegetables, the buzzing and flutter of pollinators. We purchased the lot early in 2025, and I finally started working to make my dream a reality! But I was overwhelmed by options, and unsure of how to proceed. What did I want to grow? And how could I do it?
The Build It Up program came at the perfect time for me and my family. Equipped with new information and resources, we made our first garden plan. The program helped us create and maintain a planting schedule, and an ambitious garden layout. Factoring in watering needs, sun orientation, and soil conditions, we started to really learn more about our land. And though it required a lot of hard, consistent work, we have been rewarded each day with progress.
Build It Up gave us the tools — literally and figuratively — to begin our gardening journey. Without the program, I’m not sure where we would be. Our garden began as an open, scraggly, gravely lot. Crab grass and plastic debris created a thick layer over nutrient thin soil. Once cleared, we built about 10 raised garden beds, for herbs and specialty crops, like ground cherries and huckleberries. My husband and I constructed a chicken coop and run for a small gaggle of Rhode Island red hens, which cluck and pluck at the soil throughout the day. Two new rain barrels collect water, which we use to nourish the fruit trees we have planted (pear, apple, peach, plum). Bees are coming later this spring.
My family comes to the garden to spend time together, and to pursue our own interests. We bring snacks, play music, and wear funny, wide hats to prevent sunburn. I continue to struggle with properly covering the in-ground garden beds. Something — the wind or wildlife or human neighbors — seems intent on removing the lawn fabric that suppresses weeds. So I often do the same task over and over. Sometimes I take a break to check on the herbs or plant pollinator-friendly flowers, or plan rows of vegetables that will emerge in summer.
My teenage daughter, usually indifferent, and often hard to connect with, puts her hands in the soil, and tries to grow her own food and flowers. My husband hauls bags of manure, assessing the dirt and talking compost, and the location of a greenhouse, which we hope to add this year. Build It Up has made it possible for us, a small, local family, to spend time together in a meaningful way. We have benefited from the exercise and the sunshine. We talk eagerly about the fresh foods that we hope will grace our table in the months ahead. We learn new things everyday, often through trial and error. And we connect with neighbors and passersby, who comment on our garden. We are thankful for Build It UP, and the opportunity to create and experience something so special.
By Megan Tewell
