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: Pietrowski Family

Gardener Story: Pietrowski Family

During my childhood, my parents always tried to have a very small garden, but we never seemed to have the time or the ability to expand beyond tomatoes, cucumbers, and green peppers. Once or twice, they ventured into melons and pumpkins, but we weren’t very...

Gardener Story: Ashley Chambers

Gardener Story: Ashley Chambers

It is May 2023 and I am in my third year of serious gardening (where I make an ACTUAL effort to not kill the plant instead of claiming I can't keep even a cactus alive). The first serious year, 2020, I planted in 2 boxes, a 10x12 area of corn, and some pots. I...

Worm Tubes: In Bed Composting

Worm Tubes: In Bed Composting

As a busy gardener with both kids and dog, a dedicated compost pile is not an option for us. We have tried many options in the past including directly throwing food scraps into the beds and a rolling composter. Neither of these options worked well in keeping the...

Gardener Story: 3 Forks Farm

Gardener Story: 3 Forks Farm

Mark and I met in church around 11 years ago. He could tell you exactly how long ago. I mention this as an introduction to the careful note taker, researcher and planner that Mark is. And to underline the contrast that I am. I am the willy-nilly part of this journey. ...

Gardener Story: Carolyn Andrews

Gardener Story: Carolyn Andrews

So far, so good in my second year of gardening with Build It Up. Participation in Build It Up the first year taught me the importance of a garden plan and crop rotation, and everything I have planted so far this year seems to be thriving in its location. The program...

Gardener Story: Rebecca Stephens

Gardener Story: Rebecca Stephens

One of the parts of this garden project I love the most is the sense of community that I receive when we pick up the plants or attend the workshops. Gardening, at its best, is a communal activity. In an idealized world, I would have learned the arts of companion...

Tomato Planting

Tomato Planting

With summer fast approaching and our summer plant distribution coming up later this week I thought a tomato planting primer was in order. In the years I've been growing food these are some of my favorite tips for getting good tomato plants in the ground.  ...