Horticulture Camp

We were very proud for one of our outstanding youth, Josh, to participate in the first horticulture science summer institute at N.C. State! Josh spent a week with other students from across the state learning about vegetables, flowers, fruits, landscaping, permaculture, college possibilibies, job opportunities, etc. Aspiring horticulturists went on field trips to area farms, participated in hands on experiments and activities with local experts, and found time for socializing and fun too!

Josh has been very active in our garden program this season. He came weekly to plant in the greenhouse this spring and has helped in our gardens and at the market this summer. He also  confidently presented a powerpoint about our work in the greenhouse for a grant reception! We are tremendously excited to see a youth with such an interest and commitment in horticulture! And with a pun totally intended, we hope that our little gardens have "planted a seed" for Josh and other youth as they continue on their journeys. We hope that participants will be inspired to seek careers in agriculture, have their own gardens, or simply have a better understanding of where food comes from.

Congratulations to Josh! We are so proud of you!

Neighborhood Gardening

In June and July, students in our summer neighborhood garden have been enthusiastically gardening twice a week.

They have been busy planting, watering, fence building, and weeding. They have harvested and tasted broccoli, cucmbers, cabbage and about two cherry tomatoes.

We are patiently waiting on more crops like peppers, corn, zucchini, and melon!

In addition to gardening, the students have participated in activites related to nutrition, art, culture, safety, and health.

These are a few recent pictures of weeding and tomato staking.

We are very excited about the energy surrounding this little garden space!

GROW art

Our sign is up! Now folks passing by will know our name: G.R.O.W. (Garden Ripples Over Wilkes)!

Special thanks to Nancy and Mary for sharing their talent and time! Also thanks to Roy for putting the sign up in the garden! And of course, thanks to the youth who helped collage the back and put on the finishing touches!

Our garden is beautiful, but the artwork adds a new creativity to our space!

First Market!

This week we harvested veggies and brought them to our first market! Okra, peppers, beets, carrots, kohlrabi, kale, collards, chard, basil, rosemary, zucchini/squash, and cucumbers!

We sold or gave away most everything!

We had a great team of youth to help harvest, wash, set up, sell, and clean up!

For our first market, we did really well. It was a great learning experience on how to make our produce presentable, interact with customers, describe our veggies, keep track of records, etc.

We hope to continue to be at the Smoot Park Market from 3:30-5:30 on Tuesdays! Stop by and check our our produce and meet our young gardeners!