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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

“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...

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...

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...

We were so happy to be accepted into the Build It Up program this year. We had heard so many great things about the program and finding a place that promotes organic practices was a blessing. I grew up in SC with parents who gardened and both of them grew up on farms...

We look around at this beautiful home and land we have stewarded and are in awe of this path we have chosen. Last summer we embarked on our journey with Build It Up and learned so much during our first year of becoming more self-sufficient. We even managed to grow...