Beginning Farmer Support

Offering workshops, mentoring, and support for beginning farmers across northeast Tennessee

The Quilt Trail

A folkart movement across America, to tell the story of place and community and promote local farm businesses

Sowing Seeds of Success

“Sowing seed, helping feed, inspiring youth to take the lead” with Build It Up through weekly after school programming for little kids and capacity building and teen employment at local high schools

Land and Water Conservation

Helping farmers and families conserve working lands and waterways for the benefit of future generations

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...

The Amos Family: Gardening Experience 

The Amos Family: Gardening Experience 

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...