Attention dirt diggers and veggie dreamers—Ouachita 4-H wants you to join the Gardening Competition at the Ark-La-Miss Fair on September 27–28, 2025! Whether you’ve planted a garden before or this is your very first time, it’s the perfect chance to get your hands dirty, grow something awesome, and maybe even win the Gardening Competition. Let’s see what you can grow with a little sunshine, water, and imagination!
Whether you're working with rows in a backyard, raised beds, or just a few containers on the porch, there's a place for you in this fun and meaningful project. All ages and experience levels are welcome—because gardening is less about perfection and more about patience, learning, and fun.
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Not a Lot of Space? No Problem!
You can grow a whole mini-garden in a 5-gallon bucket. Bucket gardening is a fantastic, affordable way to grow vegetables, herbs, or even flowers right on a porch, balcony, or sunny windowsill. Here’s how to get started:
- Grab a clean 5-gallon bucket (bonus points for recycling!).
- Drill 4–6 drainage holes in the bottom.
- Fill it with high-quality potting mix.
- Choose plants that do well in containers—like cherry tomatoes, peppers, basil, or even leafy greens.
- Place your bucket where it will get plenty of sunlight, water it regularly, and watch it grow!
Get Expert Help
Need a little help sprouting your plan? Stop by Ouachita 4-H at 704 Cypress Street in West Monroe to pick up a helpful gardening booklet and talk to a local horticulturist. They’ll be happy to answer questions and help you grow with confidence—whether you’re planting one bucket or an entire garden bed.
Grow to Give Back
This gardening project comes with a beautiful bonus mission: you can donate some of your fresh produce to the Community Wellness Pantry at the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana. The pantry serves homeless individuals and families in our community, and your harvest can help fill a hungry belly with something healthy and homegrown.
So whether you’re digging into a backyard or just setting up a few buckets on the balcony, now’s the time to get growing! Your efforts might just earn you a ribbon at the fair—and even better, you’ll be planting seeds of kindness that grow far beyond your garden.
Let’s make this summer one to grow on! 🌼💚
Ready, set, grow!
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