Hello Fellow Growers! I find that my business Joyful Souls and the GROW Farm are moving forward well, and with purpose, but with an intense focus on really helping even more people start growing their own food and herbs, and learning more about health and wellness through gardening. With that in mind, I have decided to make a change to the Virtual Garden Club. It will now be a free group with a monthly newsletter and ongoing opportunities to join me in live workshops through

Hello all! I had an unexpected hiatus as I had to take care of some family business. But the growing goes on! Despite the smothering heat, drought like weeks through June, and then the wonderful soaking rains! Here is the July Newsletter! Don't forget to plant new seeds as some of the summer plants die off! Learn more here! Click here: July Newsletter

Keep the conversation going about your backyard as your grocery store, adding a small water feature to your garden, and learn how the garden benefits beyond the food! Here is the link to this month's newsletter: Seed To Supper Newsletter

If you missed, "Beat the Bugs Before They Beat You", here is the recording along with the directions for making your own mosquito bucket! Enjoy!

Check your fruit trees and bushes. All kinds of buds, flowers, and young fruit are showing off this season! Hopefully, you have fertilized this spring already. Another good options to keep in mind when planting fruit plants and trees is to create a fruit guild around your fruit areas. A fruit guild is basically a way of companion planting around your fruit bearing plants. It creates a self-sustaining environment that helps to support soil health, rid the area of weeds, and

My apologies -last change, guys! We will meet on Tuesday instead of Monday. If you are unable to attend I will record this session. Here is the link! Hope you can join as we learn to make a Mosquito Bucket! Lisa Kershaw is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Seed to Supper Virtual Workshop: Beat the Bugs Before they Beat You! Time: May 5, 2026 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83698143187 Meeting ID: 836 9814 3187 O

Last year, this time, I was so busy getting other sites and school gardens ready for summer I was late on my garden. This year, I am nicely on time. I still have cool weather plants growing, but I have happily started summer plants as well. I did plant peas a couple of weeks ago and they are now sprouting before it gets too hot. Many things that I planted last year have come back including all of my herbs, but also my pomegranate tree which looks like is going to produce fru

This is the time of year where plantain (Plantago major) is prolific in lawns and wild areas. Most folks mow it down or pull it out as a weed, but it is an amazing medicinal full of good stuff. This is one of the first plants I teach to the children that I work with in school gardens. Check out these info sheets!

My apologies, all! A message was scheduled to let you know that our usual Monday session would be postponed to Monday, May 4 at 6:30 pm. The system had a glitch and the message wasn't sent unfortunately. I had an unexpected family issue come up earlier in the day. I appreciate your understanding. Our upcoming session is entitled, "Beat the Bugs Before they Beat You!" We are going to discuss some creative ways to deal with mosquitoes, hornworms, squash borers and squash bugs,

Let's get planting for spring and summer! Check out this month's newsletter! April 2026 Newsletter Here is a print version

We know how hard it can be to have a continual harvest of squash in the Southeast because of the pests that attack our plants. Here is a suggestion for companion planting that supports healthy squash plants such as yellow squash and zucchini. Another note, Blue Hubbard squash is a great trap plant to use in your squash plantings as squash borers really like this squash and may go to it instead of the squash you really want to produce! Blue Hubbard Squash

We often discuss nutrients and fertilizer for your growing needs. Here is a neat graphic that gives more insight to this and some easy ways to remediate your nutrient issues. Remember, start with a soil test. Here is the link to Clemson's soil testing website. It has all of the information to guide you to getting the needed soil and how to send it in for testing in South Carolina: Soil Testing Link In Virginia, here is the link to Virginia Tech Extension Office and their soi

Hey Everyone, If you get a chance, visit the Heyward Career Center Plant Sale this year. These students and their instructor work hard as they are learning about agriculture as a career. Their students and instructors also help us at the GROW farm, making signs, infrastructure and birdhouses. Hope to see you there!

I know if feels really good outside for most of us in the Southeast but don't get too happy and start putting those young seedlings in the ground. Remember to make sure each type of seedling is planted in the right temperature, and that is SOIL not Air temperature. Just like on a hot day in the early spring at the beach, the water can be freezing - the same with your soil. For most of us the soil has not warmed up enough yet for our seedlings to thrive in the ground. The same

This is going to be a good one- Building Your Garden as a Food System. Come see how to purposefully plan your garden to feed you and your family! What if grocery stores did not have the food we need? What if you feel unsure about what is in the produce that your stores have to offer? How could you provide food you and your family could live off of? Come did in deeper to food systems and how we can create that "grocery store" in our own back yard! It doesn't take much so come

What do you know about mycorrhizal fungi in the garden? How do we garden now to prevent pests later? How do you build your garden like your own food system? This and lots more to learn! Check it all out here: March 2026 Newsletter

Here is a neat way to grow potatoes with few resources and little effort. Remember, potatoes grow best in layers of dirt. When laying potato starts or potato seedlings, put a few inches of dirt in your container lay the starts on top and cover them with a layer of soil. As they sprout leaves, cover the leaves up with another layer of soil. Continue hilling soil on your plants every time the leaves sprout through until you reach the top of your growing container. Then just let

Thought you might be interested! I've gone before. Bring a truck, bring containers in your car. They will fill it up for you!

Link Here:Lisa Raiford is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Seed to Supper Virtual Meeting: Container Growing Options and Questions about Your Spring Planting Time: Feb 23, 2026 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84518473785?pwd=ebeFUm4Y16GXEZ844DeB9KYeXJ4bNJ.1 Meeting ID: 845 1847 3785 Passcode: 251972 --- One tap mobile +13126266799,,84518473785#,,,,*251972# US (Chicago) +16469313860,,84518473785#,,,,*251972# US