BACKYARD GARDENERS

WANT TO KNOW WHERE YOUR FOOD COMES FROM?
WANT TO PAY LESS FOR GROCERIES EVERY WEEK?
WANT TO SPEND MORE TIME OUTSIDE?

START A GARDEN

Grow Ohio Valley’s Backyard Gardeners is a yearlong garden training program for families in and around Wheeling, WV. Participating families will receive all the supplies and instruction necessary to successfully grow food in their own backyard, totally free.

Applications are CLOSED for the 2026 season!

We aim to empower families in the Ohio Valley with the knowledge, skills, and tools that they need to grow as much of their own food as possible!

What participants will receive:

  • Seeds/starter plants 

  • Hand tools 

  • Fertilizer and mulch, and access to a tiller in the spring

  • Ample training and coaching to successfully complete the growing season

What participants commit to:

  • Maintaining their garden to the best of their ability

  • Tracking the produce they harvest throughout the season

  • Submitting one blog post for the Grow Appalachia blog

  • Attending 6 garden workshops in person throughout the growing season, held on the second to last Thursday of each month:

    • Garden planning (February)

    • Garden planting (March)

    • Garden maintenance (May)

    • Preservation (June)

    • Heart-healthy cooking (July)

    • Season extension (August)

FAQ’s

  • Anyone living in Marshall County, Ohio County, or the surrounding areas in Pennsylvania and Ohio is encouraged to apply.

    We welcome all levels of experience, from total beginners to seasoned gardeners looking to transition into selling their products.

    Participants must have access to a yard or designated area accessible from their home where they have permission to install a garden. Gardeners in or near downtown Wheeling without access to in-ground space on their own property may request to use a plot in one of our community gardens. Families are encouraged. There are no income restrictions on participation in this program.

  • Anyone interested can apply online through the link on our website or call the Grow Ohio Valley office at (304) 233-4769 to request a paper application. 

  • Applications are due February 1st 2026. Selected participants can expect to hear from us no later than February 16th.

  • If you have questions, feel free to reach out to us at education@growov.org or call us at (304) 233-4769.

APPLY NOW

Get involved:

As a participant:

Fill out our application online or call our office at (304) 233-4769 and leave a message to request a paper application.

As a partner:

If you are interested in recruiting families, sharing your skills, or donating resources, contact us at education@growov.org. We’d love to work with you!

A little more background info:
This program is supported by Grow Appalachia, an initiative of Berea College in Berea, KY. From their website: “Grow Appalachia seeks to impact food insecurity in central Appalachia by helping as many Appalachian families grow as much of their own food as possible through grant making to non-profits throughout the region. Grow Appalachia partners with nonprofit organizations throughout central Appalachia to administer the Grow Appalachia program at the local level–delivering organic production resources and technical assistance through a hired partner site coordinator so that families truly have all they need to grow their own food. Since 2010, Grow Appalachia has partnered with more than 60 nonprofits in central Appalachia who have worked with over 6,000 families to grow 4 million pounds of organic food for themselves and their families.”

You can learn more about all that Grow Appalachia does by visiting their website: growappalachia.berea.edu