Last year, the Grow This: WV Garden Challenge had just started for the season when we moved into our new home. I signed up, got the seed packets, and got growing. I was so excited because this was a challenge I knew I could do well at. I did write about it last year (part 1) and (part 2).
What was the challenge in previous years?
“A statewide competition that aims to get West Virginians to move more, grow their own food, and crush hunger in our state. Participants complete challenges to earn points for their counties. Some challenges are simple, like donating vegetables to a food pantry. Others are more involved, like organizing a seed library or building a Grow This-themed float for a local parade. The competition is supported by grant funds for these types of educational programs.”
Unfortunately, the program was defunded in late summer/early fall, staff were laid off, and a very important set of programs was eliminated. Poof. (Grow This! had been supported and funded by the USDA SNAP Ed program for the past 9 years.)
Then this winter, they (a program of the WVU Extension Service) suddenly announced they would bring back the Grow Challenge. This time it would be just one variety of seed – the Black Cherry Tomato, and more so, it was grown in West Virginia, and was certified organic. A local to the state farm organization was handling the logistics and was free to sign up for, though donations were happily accepted to help the program keep going. We sent a donation, because I want to see this keep going!
If you live in West Virginia, go here to order the seeds. It is totally free to order it. They are mailed out after.
That was exciting! It was such a good feeling to see people posting on both the main Facebook page and our local county Facebook page.
I watched my chives from last year starting to poke up in the second week of March.
Both plants I had grown from seed had survived the very cold winter we had here in the Shenandoah Valley. They are already twice the size as last week. And I still have leftover seeds from last year’s challenge, so I will be growing those as well. (The Mesclun Lettuce from last year, I have more of it growing in the greenhouse currently.)
The seed packets are perfect: heavy-duty, tiny, and rustic. It just suits it! (Photo borrowed from the FB page)
I got my seeds planted in a recycled 2-pound strawberry container.
I had enough seeds to fill it amply. Once they germinate and grow larger, I will move them into 1-gallon pots. I used the recycled container so I would have a “greenhouse” lid on it. They are in our pop-up greenhouse, enjoying the early days of spring.
See you later in the season for an update!
~Sarah