Welcome to Community Roots Month! Each May, our classes celebrate the growing season while sharing practical gardening knowledge with our community. Throughout the month, participants explore everything from building strong garden foundations to preserving the harvest—gaining the skills and inspiration to grow, nurture, and enjoy the abundance of spring.

This week’s class: 5 Steps to Growing Your Own Vegetables

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to strengthen your gardening skills, this class will walk you through the essential foundations of a thriving vegetable garden. Together, we’ll explore the five most important elements to consider when growing your own food: sun, soil, planting time, water, and sharing your harvest.

From there, we’ll take a closer look at one of the most important pieces of a successful garden—healthy soil. Participants will learn practical ways to build and support soil health and will have the opportunity to practice a simple soil health checkup using tools commonly found in your kitchen.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to choose and prepare the right spot for your vegetable garden
• Free resources that can help you select, grow, and harvest crops that thrive in your garden
• Tips for feeding and watering your plants so they stay healthy and productive throughout the growing season
• Why healthy soil is the foundation of a productive garden
• How to check the health of your soil using simple tools from your kitchen
• How to use your soil health checkup to improve your soil over time

Takeaway:
Participants will leave with practical tips, helpful resources, and the knowledge to start (or strengthen) their own vegetable garden, including a simple method for checking and improving soil health at home.

This class will take place at 1038 Old US Hwy 70W, Black Mountain. Please arrive about 10 minutes early to get settled. Spots are limited, so be sure to reserve yours soon.