Build It Up Blog
The Build It Up Blog includes entries from our gardners discussing their gardening journey and guides from our program staff regarding when to start your seeds, when to put transplants in the ground, when to fertilize, and more!
Gardener Story: Emily Searcy
One of the most rewarding things about gardening is enjoying the fruits of your labor - that first ripe organically-grown tomato that you started from seed, nurtured under grow lights, hardened on the porch, strung up from trellises, and then watched and waited as it...
Gardener Story: Jaime Jones
This is our second year in the build it up program, and we are grateful for the experience. This program has given me a reason to get into the garden every day, even on the days I don't feel like it. Some days I don’t do much but water and watch. The birds and...
Gardener Story: Audra Holmes
We are now part way through our second year of the Build It Up Backyard Gardeners Program. What does the second year mean for us? Confidence. Confidence that we can grow food for our family. Confidence that we can tend a garden. Confidence that we can cook and eat...
Gardener Story: Kitty Michael
I have been knocking my head against a wall to think of something to say. I am Kitty, a second year BIU participant. I am, like many of you, still feeling very uncertain of myself even as a second year gardener. Am I doing this right? Did I pay enough attention in the...
Gardener Story: Kirstin Blackburn
Anxious hopeful anticipation. That’s what I always feel at the May stage of the gardening season. You’ve prepped the soil. You’ve pulled weeds, added compost, and dug holes. You’ve made your garden plan by researching and selecting your plant and seed varieties....
Gardener Story: Justin Delp
We are so excited for the garden this year. We loved starting our garden last year and we’re excited to try new things with it. We have already expanded it by two rows so we can add some fruits and some flowers.Another big change we made that will make a big...
Gardener Story: Felicia Echols
Gardening has brought some unexpected challenges but most importantly some unexpected memories. I have a 7 year old, 5 year old, and 3 year old and they keep me on my toes! In the hustle and bustle of life, working, homeschooling, homemaking, and frankly surviving the...
Gardener Story: Nancy Eddins
Last year as a first time gardener was probably the most exciting thing ever. To grow things with my own work was amazing. The knowledge provided me by the ARCD was excellent, they were able to teach me to grow things. Mind you I had killed cactus plants before....
Gardener Story: Opal Frye-Clark
The outdoors and gardening has always been essential to my life. Like several in this area, I grew up on a farm. With my grandparents, we would plant a huge garden every year. Most of our fresh produce came from the results of that garden and I have very few...