At the direction of our leadership, Extension has been collaborating with several community groups over the years. One such group is the Saint Vincent’s Mission Grow Appalachian Program. The program works with lower income and beginning gardeners by assisting them in the production of fruits and vegetables to feed their family. Participants are encouraged their second year of the program to market some of their excess produce and products at various venues, the farmers market being one. 

Extension takes the lead on providing the educational component of the program by providing eight monthly session. Those sessions included the topics of basics of gardening, soil testing, insects, diseases, beneficial insects, wildlife issues, composting, chemical safe usage, raised bed, container gardening, harvesting and food safety. All of the participants had a site visit and suggestions were given prior to planting season. The program assisted the participants with seed, plants, fertilizers, fencing, and tools. Our demonstration garden, raised beds and containers, have been used for hands-on demonstrations and variety testing for the programs.

This year, the program started with forty-six participating families. They were require to attend at least 6 educational session, follow soil recommendations, and complete harvest reports. At this time, thirty-five families have not missed an educational session and harvest reports are being regularly submitted. The harvest reports show that 7800 pounds of vegetables have been harvested to date this year. Row covers and other season extenders are being used to continue the growing season on into the fall.

All of the participants advised that they learned new knowledge from involvement in the program. Ninety-two percent of the participants report using new skills learned from one of the sessions. Most of the participants thanked both entities for their efforts in making their gardening efforts successful. Over the years, more than six hundred families have received new knowledge from this educational series..