The countdown to the Throwdown has begun. Friday, January 31 is the deadline to sign up for free seeds from the Grow This: West Virginia Garden Challenge . After that, the competition side of the popular program takes off.
The 2025 campaign, operated by the West Virginia University Extension Family Nutrition Program, launched on January 14 with a new science fiction-inspired theme, new seed varieties, a new seed distribution system and a new round of competition.
“While we’re closing our seed sign-up for 2025, this is really just the beginning of the fun,” said Kristin McCartney, Extension specialist and SNAP-Ed coordinator with the Family Nutrition Program. “We’re ready to get this year’s Grow This Throwdown underway and will begin launching challenges on social media in coming weeks.”
The Grow This Throwdown is a statewide competition that debuted in 2024. Participants complete a series of challenges aimed at promoting gardening and building local food security and resilience. Completing a challenge earns points for their county teams.
Last year’s challenges included starting seed libraries, donating seeds to fellow growers, creating edible landscapes in their communities, a recipe contest, a per-pound harvest challenge and more.
“While these may seem like just fun community challenges, they are creating community change that can help individuals and communities be more self-sufficient when it comes to food,” McCartney said.
Grow This gave away $22,500 in community improvement grants at the end of 2024’s competition.
Click here to sign up for seeds from Grow This: https://wvu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bybVdLcSuYBPOku
In March, participants will pick up their seeds at one of over 200 community partners across the state. Partners include many local WVU Extension offices, local libraries, community organizations and county Family Resource Network offices.
This year’s Grow This seeds are chives, mesclun lettuce and pickling cucumbers.
-WVU-
zrh/01/27/25
CONTACT:
Zackary Harold
Multimedia Specialist
WVU Extension Family Nutrition Program
304-550-2186; zackary.harold@mail.wvu.edu
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