When I moved to Tennessee two years ago, I was thrilled about the possibility of growing my own food on the modest plot of land we had purchased. Healthy eating and taking care of the Earth rank high among my priorities, and I figured gardening was a great way to accomplish both. The first time I poked a seed into the beautiful, black dirt in my garden, I squealed with delight. However, that first year, the caterpillars got more food from my efforts than I did! I was humbled and a bit discouraged by all of the setbacks I encountered. I knew I needed help if I were ever going to succeed in this endeavour.
Enter ARCD and Grow it Up Tennessee. After I heard about this program from a friend, I knew this was exactly what I needed- a structured program, community support, and lots of education. I was thrilled when I found out I had been accepted into the program! Before the first meeting, I felt a bit intimidated that I was such a beginner. But it turns out, that is exactly who this program is designed for. I had instant camaraderie with my fellow classmates…we were all having similar struggles! Another gardener easily helped me identify what had been making all the holes in my radish leaves. “Looks like slug damage. Try the Sluggo product they gave us.” Sure enough, the problem improved.
This summer, I have barely had to purchase any fresh fruit or vegetables. I have grown an abundance of peas, cucumbers, and zucchini, which my relatives and neighbors have been happy to receive. My tomatoes are just starting to blush, and I feel confident that I will have plenty to can and preserve. I feel more connected with the earth and environment. I know which bugs are “good” and “bad”, and I squirm a little less when I have to squish the bad ones. Without this program, I would likely still be harvesting just a few measly tomatoes, or maybe I would have given up altogether. But I feel so much more accomplished, and I am happy to have this knowledge to share with my neighbors and loved ones. I am so grateful for this program. It does make a difference!
