County residents are once again invited to turn over a new leaf for 2018.

Build It Up East Tennessee, which is sponsored through the Appalachian RC&D Council, is now accepting application for its fourth year of the “Backyard Gardens” program, available in Carter County and Washington Counties. 2018 marks the second year the program has been available for Carter County.

According to Jilian Reece, Carter County Community Advisory Board garden committee member, Build It Up will include 15 county families.

“There is no income requirement and everyone is invited to participate,” Reece said. The goal of the program is to teach people to become more food secure through gardening.”

Individuals can visit buildituptn.com/gardens-projects to fill out an application. Residents wanting to participate are encouraged to register before the end of the month, Reece added.

No previous gardening experience is required to apply, but experienced gardeners are welcome to apply as a “Market Gardener” and grow food for sale at local markets. Novice gardeners will be given an option to sell extra produce but the focus of the program will be to teach individuals skills to use to produce at home.

Reece mentioned the program impacted 15 families last year and that Build It Up assists with the community gardens, with an additional garden being created this year at Browns Chapel.

Over the the course of 2016, Build It Up worked with 25 families in four counties and have collectively grown over 80,000 pounds of food.

Participants in the “Backyard Garden” program must complete a series of six workshops, which include planning a garden, planting a garden, maintaining a garden, preserving the harvest, healthy cooking and fall gardening.”

Build It Up is funded through Grow Appalachia, a foundation based out of Berea, KY. Participants will also receive multiple receives including plants, seeds, fertilizer, a hoe and hand trowel, organix pest and disease control supplies, season extension materials and help with tilling new gardens. Applicants need to have access to land for a garden, but do not need to actually own the land used, as long as permission is granted by whoever owns the land. Gardens must also be within the three stated counties.

Once the deadline passes for the applications, Reece added that an informative session to teach people the ins and outs of the program. Childcare will be available to families participating, Reece said. Volunteer opportunities are available for individuals wanting to assist with the workshops.

For more information, visit buildituptn.com or the Carter County Community Advisory Board Facebook page.