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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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....

       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...