Fayette County Community Action Agency and Fayette County Penn State Extension Master Gardeners have partnered to offer a Master Gardener Seed to Supper program for Fayette County.
The Seed to Supper curriculum was created by the Oregon Food Bank and the Master Gardeners of the Oregon State University Extension Service. With permission, Penn State Master Gardeners customized the program to meet the needs of gardeners in Pennsylvania.
Seed to Supper is a comprehensive beginner gardening program that provides novice and adult gardeners with the tools they need to learn how to successfully grow some of their own food on a limited budget. This program offers more than just gardening training and improved access to healthy food. It provides learners with transformative experiences that increase food security for both individuals and communities by fostering food literacy, resilience, community connectivity, and supportive social networks.
Classes cover the basics of vegetable gardening: soil preparation, garden planning, care and harvesting. After completing the course, the participants will have the knowledge to create a garden in a raised bed, a container or directly in the ground. You will also be ready to help set up a community garden.
Up to 15 adult participants per class undertake to take part in all classes in the series. The program is free, with course books and other accessories, made available to all participants free of charge. Each course consists of six two-hour sessions, typically held at the same time each week for six consecutive weeks. These courses begin in Fayette County in mid-April and end in late May – just in time for a garden to begin.
Fayette’s volunteer master gardeners are also available for advice during the growing season.
With many Fayette County residents unable to access gardens easily, the Fayette County Community Action Agency will support five community gardens where Seed to Supper participants can and will plant, care, and harvest vegetables.
Classes are held both indoors and outdoors and include hands-on activities. In-person classes are offered in Uniontown at the Third Presbyterian Church and the East End Community Center, in the Republic at the Food Bank, and in Connellsville in a location yet to be determined. COVID-19 precautions are observed for personal instruction. A virtual class is also offered for those who are uncomfortable attending a live class.
The goal of the Fayette County Community Action Agency is to focus all available resources on the problems and causes of poverty and to help the low-income residents of Fayette County. FCCA has helped families grow and prosper by offering programs that strengthen their lives. Community Action currently operates 6 community vegetable gardens. The addition of five new raised beds increases the availability of garden space for participants in the Seed to Supper Class and helps others to help themselves.
If you have any questions, please contact Mimi McDonough at Fayette Community Action and request a registration form. McDonough can be contacted at 724-437-6050 ext. 3234 or by email at mmcdonough@fccaa.org.
