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Grow Morristown, a local organization supporting a community-based food system, prepares for a new season and welcomes a new garden manager.

Heather Bolton, who was one of the first gardeners with Grow Morristown in 2020, joined as manager earlier this year.

Since 2020 she received her farm ID number from the NRCS and completed the Tennessee Master Beekeepers program. In her home garden she established perennials and added chickens, developing her skills further.

“Behind the scenes, it has been amazing to have a new managing partner in Heather Bolton. It’s great to have new perspectives, more experience to share and more bandwidth, sharing the workload and approaching the workshops as a duo,” said Jason Rogers, Grow Morristown manager.

This year, Grow Morristown is in full swing and has already hosted its first two workshops to welcome in spring and new gardeners to its program.

“Our first workshop of the season was well attended and our gardeners showed up prepared. Attendance at our first Community Garden Program workshop of the season was fantastic, with families coming from all over the area to learn about creating and managing their own gardens. These gardeners came prepared and eager to learn,” said Rogers.

“It’s great to see our community growing each and every year. Being part of a community is about more than just being a member, it’s about friendships, helping one another, and showing that we all care for one another.”

This year the program will now host two workshops to expand their reach throughout the community.

“This year, our community garden program is offering something special. We have added double workshops,” he said. “Not only does this mean we can keep class sizes small, but it also makes scheduling much more convenient. Our hopes are to have much higher workshop attendance.”

“Our reach into the community is growing bigger and better this year. We’re thrilled to announce a ‘community family’ partnership with Habitat for Humanity that will reach even more people while doing what we already do.”

“Two ambassadors from the ReStore program will attend each workshop and participate just like current programs members do – attending workshops and reporting harvests. It’s exciting to get started on this new partnership.”

Rogers looks forward to the new season and the experiences it will bring to the program and staff.

“With our first workshop behind us, we are already looking forward to our second workshop and working on our tilling list,” he said. “This should be an amazing growing season for all of us.”

Grow Morristown arose in 2020 out of a shared desire to support the growth of a sustainable, community-based food system in the area.

Through gaining the necessary skills, knowledge, and commitment to gardening and farming, the community is strengthened by the increased access to foods that are fresh, organic, and healthier for the local environment.

Each participating family is offered monthly organic gardening education workshops March through September on timely topics. Families are also provided with tilling support, plants, seeds, fertilizer, tools, and other materials to help raise a successful garden located in their backyards.

For more information on Grow Morristown and its workshops visit its webpage.