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: Dezta Family

Gardener Story: Dezta Family

This is our second year gardening as a family. The kids planted the flowers we grew this year - sunflowers, four o clocks, marigolds, nasturtiums, cosmos and amaranth - that we have gifted to friends and neighbors. It also made for a great pollinator garden and we...

Gardener Story: Earlene and John

Gardener Story: Earlene and John

As second year members of the Build It Up program, we have continued to grow our garden and our knowledge. The first year, we had to overcome starting out a garden, learning how to grow food and when to cultivate it. We weren’t always successful, but we learned a lot...

Gardener Story: Anna Lundberg

Gardener Story: Anna Lundberg

This was our first year with the Build it Up program! We had tried gardening in years past but to no avail! It has been wonderful to have classes with fellow gardeners in our area who understand the weather and the soil right where we live! The classes were so...

Gardener Story: Megan Davis

Gardener Story: Megan Davis

This is my first year in the Build It Up backyard gardening program; it also happens to be my first year gardening (fruit & veg) period. I started at absolute zero – no experience, no talent, no tools, no plan, no garden… nothing. I described my level of...

Gardener Story: Lovelace Family

Gardener Story: Lovelace Family

Thanks to the Build It Up program, I’ve had the privilege of growing a fantastic garden this year and gaining knowledge about organic gardening and self-sustained food production. Providing my family with homegrown food over this growing season has been an incredibly...

Gardener Story: Christina Broyles

Gardener Story: Christina Broyles

This year marked my third year growing a garden. I start dreaming of gardening on the heals of Christmas and New Years Eve. What will I grow? What shall I do differently this year? What worked for me and what didn't work last year? Its an exciting time in my mind...

Gardener Story: Bethany Gray

Gardener Story: Bethany Gray

“If this is food, what have I been eating?” ~ Peggy Hill.   I reset my life a couple years ago, reassessed my priorities, mustered all our resources, and moved us back to the mountains. Next up was a safe, sustainable supply of food. I knew that much of what we were...

Gardener Story: The Sowers Family

Gardener Story: The Sowers Family

Our family was absolutely ecstatic and blessed to be a part of the 2023 Build It Up Program. As this was our first year, we have thoroughly enjoyed every facet of this most educational program. Although I am a newly retired teacher, having taught for forty-three...

Gardener Story: Brookman Family

Gardener Story: Brookman Family

Chickens, chickens everywhere! Last year was our first year gardening, and we learned quite a few lessons the hard way. What kind of foods to grow. The amount of foods we should plan on. How much space we actually need to grow the things we will eat. Most importantly...