[UPDATE 01/04/2023: Due to overwhelming demand, the sign-up survey is now closed. More information.]
West Virginia University Extension is again sending free seeds to any West Virginian
who fills out a short online survey.
The seeds are available through the Grow This: West Virginia Garden Challenge, a
project of the WVU Extension Family Nutrition Program that aims to teach West Virginians
how to grow their own food.
“With the high cost of food right now, people can really benefit from learning how
to grow their own food,” said Kristin McCartney, WVU Extension assistant professor
and public health specialist. “Making sure that people have those skills — and
can pass them on to the next generation — is essential for our communities to achieve
long-term food security.”
This year’s Grow This crops will add an extra splash of color to home gardens: purple
carrots, miniature multi-colored bell peppers and red kale.
Seeds are expected to
arrive in mid-April.
Participants stay connected throughout the growing season on the Grow This Facebook
page, which features helpful information from WVU Extension gardening and canning
experts as well as competitions and giveaways.
The Grow This: West Virginia Garden Challenge enters its sixth year in 2023. The
challenge started small in 2018, sending out just a few hundred seeds. Interest
in the program exploded in 2020, as COVID lockdowns had many stuck at home and
looking for a new hobby. In 2022, Grow This seeds and gardening instruction reached
over 100,000 West Virginians. Around 40% of participants were first time gardeners.
“Gardening can seem like a daunting task to people who have never done it before,”
McCartney said. “With Grow This, our goal is to start small with a few crops and
let people build confidence from there. At the same time, we connect them with
a statewide virtual community to cheer them on and offer support.”
WVU Extension Family Nutrition Program’s work is supported by the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
zrh 12/20/22
CONTACT:
Zack Harold
Multimedia Specialist
WVU Extension Family Nutrition Program
304.550.2186;
zackary.harold@mail.wvu.edu
Call 1.855.WVU.NEWS for the latest West Virginia University news and information from WVUToday. Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.
zackary.harold@mail.wvu.edu
Call 1.855.WVU.NEWS for the latest West Virginia University news and information from WVUToday. Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.