Leslie County has long been considered a food desert with access to fresh foods limited. Most people have to drive 30 minutes or more to a grocery store where they can buy healthy foods. A lot of times driving that distance isn't an option due to not having transportation or money, leaving them with the only option, buying heavily processed foods from the local gas station.

By bringing the Grow Appalachia program into our county we have the opportunity to provide free gardening education, garden plants, seed potatoes, onion sets, gardening tools, fertilizer and so much more. Gardeners are required to attended 6 classes: Garden Planning, Garden Planting, Organic Garden Maintenance, Heart Healthy Cooking, Preserving your Garden Food, and Fall Gardening which spans spring through fall.

Families, grandparents raising their grandkids, single parents, disabled, retired and the elderly are just some of the people who can benefit from this program. No one is turned away. Currently our membership includes 40 families and we have a waiting list of over 10 people who would like to join.  

By teaching people healthy organic gardening techniques, seed saving and encouraging gardeners to share with others, this program has the power to impact far beyond the 40 families who are members of the group. Of the 2 programs we have had so far attendance by members has been close to 75%. People who are not members are welcome to come and we have had some people just visit to learn.