The Hometown Harvest Smart Garden is really coming into its own. As each week passes, there’s more and more produce popping up, ready to donate. Not only are the fruits and veggies growing, but so is Max’s knowledge of gardening, and one decision he made early on is already paying off.  

The pollinator Payoff

When Max, senior marketing and communications education manager, was planning the garden, one piece of advice kept showing up through all his research: attract pollinators early on. So before a single vegetable went into the ground, he planted a row of wildflowers along the border of the garden.

Turns out, that may have been the best gardening decision he has made so far.

“I’ve been stung by every single type of bee conceivable,” Max says. “And I’ve seen tons of butterflies out here, birds, and even some bats.”

As painful as those bee stings may be, they’re a sign that the wildflowers are doing exactly what they’re supposed to do. Wildflowers release nectar and pollen that attract local bee populations and other pollinators throughout the growing season. Instead of just passing through, these insects stick around, moving from flower to flower and eventually over to the fruit and vegetable plants growing just a few feet away.

Pollinators are essential to any productive garden, helping many plants develop healthy fruit. For crops in the Smart Garden like squash and watermelon, pollinators are the key ingredient, carrying pollen between flowers so that fruit is able to grow. More visits from bees and other pollinators means a healthier harvest that can be provided to the people in the community who need it most.

The wildflowers aren’t just adding color to the garden, they’re helping build a healthy little ecosystem where fruits, vegetables, and pollinators all benefit from one another. One small strip of flowers, and Max is one step closer to becoming a master gardener. 

Calling in the real professional

With the garden growing on all fronts, Max knew he could use some extra hands. It was said Upcountry Fiber employees would be the ones doing all the work, but you can’t pass up help from the big leagues.

This week, Max brought his son out to the field and put him to work. He got busy turning up dirt and making sure the garden stayed in prime condition. The real job, though, was keeping his dad on track.

Having an extra set of (little) hands is a good reminder of what this project is really about. The Hometown Harvest Smart Garden isn’t just an employee effort, it’s a community one, and the goal has always been making sure families and kids across the Upstate have more access to fresh food. Because at the end of the day, this garden isn’t just growing produce, it’s growing something worth sharing – one row, one lesson, and one helping hand at a time.