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.