Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
For the seventh annual Grow This! challenge, the West Virginia University Extension Service has upped the ante with a Throwdown challenge.
Grow This! is a free seed program offered through the extension service where West Virginians can apply to receive three free seed packets. For 2024, the state is challenging counties to form a Throwdown Team to compete in challenges that will bring some additional fun to the growing season.
“We want our challenges to help communities,” said Kristin McCartney, Extension specialist and SNAP-Ed coordinator with the WVU Extension Family Nutrition Program. “The challenges aren’t just fun, they are strategies for building long-term nutrition security. We hope the challenges will encourage connection around issues of hunger and nutrition.”
The Pocahontas County team was formed by gardeners Mia Evans, Tammy Hively, Mary Sue Burns and Hallie Herold. They set up a Facebook page where the team can share tips and challenges.
“So far, they’ve had challenges with soil testing – encouraging people who are part of the group or anybody in the county to get your soil tested,” Hively said. “Now there’s one with creative ways of potting plants, which is why I shared the newspaper pots as an idea.”
Each Thursday, a lecture is shared online for team members to watch. They feature experts providing information on topics such as food safety 101, pruning, varieties of vegetables, seed packets and more.
“The larger goal is that we have more food available for the county – free or through farmers markets – just to get more fresh food, fresh vegetables and things like that, into the hands of the people in the county,” Hively said.
The team has a slight edge due to the actions of some of its members, including the four leaders. Last year, Herold and Hively started a seed library at Green Bank Library where seeds are collected and shared with the community. The library was started after a seed swap was held and there were seeds leftover.
Green Bank Library just held its 2024 seed swap and again had leftovers for the seed library at Green Bank and Linwood Community Library.
Since starting the team Facebook page – Pocahontas County WV, Grow This! Throwdown Team – it has accrued 71 members and is still open to those interested in joining.
Along with sharing updates on the challenge and Thursday lectures, the Facebook page is a place for members to share their own expertise and suggestions with other gardeners.
The team is open to gardeners of all levels and all are welcome to join.
“If you garden much, you probably know a lot of the information that they send, but it’s still a great refresher,” Hively said. “It’s fun.”
