• The Full Program is for gardeners who want to learn how to garden and need access to all the tools, supplies, and equipment provided in the program.

• Participants will receive all of the basics to start a garden plot, including organic seeds and seedlings, organic fertilizers, organic pest and disease control, hand tools, material for row covers, and help with tilling up new gardens if needed.

• Participants in the full program will meet with the garden coach throughout the growing season 2-5 times.

• You will be required to attend the mandatory meetings and submit harvest totals. 

• Participants will also receive access to our online program resource library and in person Tool Library. 

• The Full Program IS open to all, however, the program prioritizes applicants with children, those who have incomes below the national poverty line, or those individuals and families who receive SNAP benefits. 

• Education Only is an option for gardeners who want to learn how to garden, are interested in being a part of a gardening community and attending workshops, but who may not need access to the supplies distribution.

• Participants in Education Only will be required to attend the mandatory meetings and submit harvest totals.

• Participants in Education Only can meet with the garden coach 1-2 times, once to select a site and perform a soil test and once during the growing season in June or July for garden maintenance support. 

• Participants will also receive access to our online program resource library and in person Tool Library. 

• Participants in Education Only may be offered tilling assistance, if necessary.

• Active participation and attendance of 9 required workshops. Attend at least 7 out of 9 good standing.

• Visit with the garden coach as required per program track.

• Record and submit monthly harvest totals. 

• Water and check on your garden for at least 15-20 minutes daily during the growing season. 

• Your garden space tilled by Grow Oak Ridge must have 90-95% dedicated to vegetable growing. 

• You must plant your garden within the necessary time frame of the program. 

• Failure to attend required workshops or garden visits without notice and not reporting harvest data, will result in expulsion from the program. After your first missed session, you will receive a written warning. Expulsion from the program will occur after your second missed session without communication to our staff. Exceptions will only be made in case of emergency. This may sound super serious, but this is a highly sought after program and we want you to succeed to what we know you are capable of!

• Conventional Fertilizers or pesticides. Gardens supported by Grow Oak Ridge must be maintained using only organic practices. 

• Container Gardening Equipment and Education: Our program curriculum is geared towards inground gardens, as is the supplies we distribute. At this time, we cannot furnish the purchasing of containers and soil for growing. However, if you have access to these materials already, we will provide you with seeds and seedlings. Additional or specialty trellising material will be considered on a case by case basis. While we may have one specialty session on container gardening (not guaranteed). Our fertilizers are also for inground garden applications, so you may also need to purchase your own, organic, all purpose water soluble fertilizer.  

• Deer Fencing:  You may need deer fencing if you experience heavy deer pressure in your area. We can give guidance on methods and equipment but cannot fully fund deer fencing.  

• Flower Gardening: The program focuses on vegetable growing. While we do provide certain flower seeds to encourage beneficial insects in the garden, the education and supplies distributed will be geared towards vegetable production. We ask that 90-95% of your garden space tilled by Grow Oak Ridge is dedicated to vegetable plants.

• Perennial fruit bushes or trees. 

• Gardeners will only receive 1 of the type of tool or equipment distributed. It is up to you to take care of your tools and equipment to keep them in good condition.

Grow Your Own Program meet and greet! Meet your fellow gardeners and learn more about the program.

Garden Planning workshop. We will cover what’s in season and how to plan your garden. You will learn how to make a garden map.

Open to all, but second year participants may attend this workshop for the required garden planning credit. In this workshop, we will talk about general planning, succession planting, square foot gardening, and we will talk about the methods used in the book, How To Grow More Food In Less Space Than You Ever Thought Possible by John Jeavons. 

We will talk about how to plant your garden and how to interpret your soil test results.

Got garden questions and want to hear planting advice and techniques from an organic farmer? Attend this workshop with all your gardening questions in mind. A local farmer will be joining us for a Q&A and talk on Soil Health.

With special guest, our local Anderson County Extension Agent, Seth Whitehouse. Seth will cover pest and disease control and maintaining a garden.

With a special guest, our Anderson County Family and Consumer Sciences agent, Patricia Paden. We will talk about food safety, freezing, and other methods of food preservation, while also watching a water bath canning demonstration.

Open to all, but second year participants may attend this workshop for the required food preservation credit. Our Anderson County Family and Consumer Sciences agent, Patricia Paden, will talk briefly about food safety as she leads us through a hands on canning demonstration.