This summer Henderson County 4-H was able to offer the Mini Gardening program for youth ages 8-18! In May, youth received their plant seeds and seedlings provided by 4-H to fill a 10x12 garden of their own! Participants learned from Isaac Wyatt, N.C. Cooperative Extension Horticultural Intern, about how to plant and grow a healthy vegetable garden throughout the summer! Types of vegetables and flowers included: Tomatoes, peppers, okra, summer squash, sunflowers, and marigolds.

"We picked up our orientation packets including seeds and seedlings! After a few days prior of watching the sun in the yard, we chose a location for our raised bed garden with 6+ hours of sun, facing south." - 4-H'er Journal

Part of the program included two home garden visits from the Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers of Henderson County for a judging component and keeping a mini gardening journal!

We would like to say a HUGE thank you to Master Gardner's Judy Swenson, Jane Gibbins, and Barbara Patton, and horticulture intern Isaac Wyatt for their work with the program! Our volunteers got to see and work with wonderful participants and great gardens. Each Mini Gardening participant had unique factors that contributed to their creativity and showed their hard work throughout the summer!

We are proud to announce two of mini gardening blue ribbon winners with their age categories!