Starting a garden has always felt overwhelming to me. I tried many times over the years to grow vegetables and herbs, but I rarely got more than a handful of cherry tomatoes or a few basil leaves. I didn’t know anything about soil, watering, or how to safely manage weeds and pests, and I thought gardening would just come naturally. I quickly found out how much there really is to learn. I could read books, blogs, or watch YouTube videos all day and still not know where to start. That’s why getting into the Build It Up program was such a big deal for me. It gave me not only the resources but also the guidance I had been missing.
This program couldn’t have come into my life with more perfect timing. I was finding my way out of postpartum depression, and gardening became a light at the end of the tunnel for me. Working with the soil gave me a sense of calm I had been missing, and it reminded me that I can have purpose beyond being a mother. It showed me that I can try new things, work hard at them, and grow right alongside my children (and our plants!). That reminder was something I didn’t even know I needed, and it has made me feel stronger and more balanced in every part of my life.
My kids were part of every step, from preparing the beds to planting seeds to celebrating when tiny sprouts appeared. They were thrilled to harvest pumpkins, potatoes , and piles of collards, and even more excited to try the foods they had grown with their own hands. They were amazed by bugs they had never seen before, especially the tomato hornworms that became hosts to wasp larvae, and they loved watching the popcorn plants grow taller than them. Even the setbacks, like caterpillars devouring our kale, turned into learning moments we could share together. It was a gentle way to show them that challenges don’t mean failure, but opportunities to adapt and keep trying.
Some of my favorite memories came from the smallest things. While spreading mulch, my oldest started digging into the pile and suddenly stopped when he saw steam rising from inside. He looked at me with his eyes wide open, amazed that the mulch was warm and alive. At the same time, my youngest filled his toy dump truck again and again, proudly hauling mulch loads to the edge of the garden. Seeing them notice and take part in even the tiniest details made the whole experience more meaningful than I could have ever imagined.
Through Build It Up, I was given everything I needed to truly get started: seeds, starter plants, organic fertilizer and pesticides, gloves, buckets, netting, T posts, weed barrier, and tools. They also provided me with all the essential knowledge to grow those plants successfully, as well as a variety of other plants. These were things I would have never known to buy or figure out on my own. But even more important than the supplies and knowledge was the confidence I gained. I realized that mistakes don’t mean failure; they are simply lessons for the next season. I also learned that organic gardening doesn’t have to be expensive or Pinterest worthy. It just has to work for your family.
With grocery store prices climbing and so few regulations around how food is produced, it feels empowering to grow food for my family, and know its history. For over 15 years I’ve dreamed of building a sustainable permaculture garden, something that can continue to give back year after year. Before this program, I didn’t know how to start working toward that dream. Now I finally have a beginning, and I’m so grateful.
~ Cassandra Reimche
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