Welcome to
Build It Up Grow With Us
Build It Up provides organic gardening education from seed to harvest. Learn how to grow, prepare, and preserve food from your own backyard!
Applications for the 2026 program are now OPEN!
About Our Program
Participants receive access to monthly organic gardening education workshops beginning in March and continuing through September on timely topics. Gardeners also receive seeds, plants, tools, tilling support, fertilizer, and other materials needed to help raise a successful garden at home. The program is free to participating families, thanks to generous grant support from Grow Appalachia.
We accept applications for Build It Up in January of each year and families are notified in February if they’ve been accepted into the program. All ages, incomes, and family sizes are able to apply, but we put special emphasis on recruiting low-income families, families receiving SNAP and/or disability benefits, and families with young children.
This program was born from a shared desire to support the growth of a sustainable, community-based food system in our area.
With the skills, knowledge, and commitment to gardening and farming, our community is enriched by increased access to fresh, organic, healthy foods. We will prioritize folks who wouldn’t otherwise be able to garden without the support of this program, because our goal is to increase access to healthy, fresh food for all members of our community regardless of income.
Workshops will be held in person and online.
BY THE NUMBERS
We teach how to grow organically and in harmony with our ecosystem. Our workshops focus on gardening in ways that prevent and disease issues naturally without relying on chemical fertilizers or sprays.
142,000
Pounds of Food Grown
100%
350
Where
Build It Up focuses its services to residents of Washington, Carter, and Unicoi counties. We do occassionally accept applicants from other counties as long as they are within 25 miles of Johnson City. Grow Appalachia has programs in other areas; click here to see if there is another program close to you.
When
Workshops are generally held March through September, are currently offered in person, and will also be available as recordings for those who are unable to attend in person. Check out the schedule of workshops to learn more about the topics we cover.
Who
We serve between 40 and 50 families each year, with at least 25 new families recruited each year. Participants are allowed up to two years in the program. Meet our most recent participants by reading their blogs.
Pop-up Markets
Our Pop-Up Markets address food insecurity and promote healthy eating habits
in local food deserts.
These markets serve families and children in areas where access to fresh,
nutritious food is often limited, including housing authorities, urban afterschool
programs, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES .
By bringing a local farmer and their fresh produce directly to communities, we
create an engaging and educational experience that fosters a deeper connection
Latest
Build It Up
Special Thanks
Build It Up is one of many Grow Appalachia partner sites. Click below to learn more about Grow Appalachia and our sister programs.