Hands On Harvests

08/06/2026

Learn tips and tricks from experienced gardeners! Get inspired! HOH is hosting three garden tours over the next few weeks. The first one is this Sunday in Annandale, hosted by a talented local grower and former lead author for the International Panel for Climate Change, including for the Agricultural Soil Management section. Learn more and sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4CA9A922A4FEC43-64925264-garden #/

07/13/2026

¡Elias Castillo, de , en YouTube, cultiva de todo! Este fin de semana, Elias ofreció un recorrido completamente en español por su increíble finca de Falls Church a los jardineros comunitarios de HOH. Uno de nuestros coordinadores de huertos, Sebastián, compartió esto con los cultivadores que no pudieron asistir:
Aquí les compartimos algunas fotos de la maravillosa visita de hoy. 🌱🍍🥭

Tuvimos la oportunidad de conocer y aprender sobre muchas frutas tropicales, diferentes variedades de plantas y las distintas formas de cultivarlas. Fue muy inspirador ver la pasión, el conocimiento y la dedicación que hay detrás de cada árbol y de cada jardín.

La visita de hoy nos recordó que, al igual que una semilla, todo gran sueño comienza siendo pequeño. Con paciencia, cuidado, constancia y amor, puede crecer y convertirse en algo extraordinario.

Nunca subestimes lo que puedes lograr cuando pones el corazón en lo que haces. Con pasión y perseverancia, todo es posible. 🌿💚

07/13/2026

You name it, YouTube's Elias Castillo is growing it! This weekend Elias gave an all-Spanish tour of his amazing Falls Church homestead to HOH community gardeners. One of our garden coordinators, Sebastian, shared this with the growers who couldn't go:
We had the opportunity to see and learn about so many tropical fruits, unique plants, and different ways to grow them. It was inspiring to witness the passion, knowledge, and dedication behind every tree and every garden.
Today’s visit reminded us that, just like a seed, every dream begins small. With patience, care, consistency, and love, it can grow into something truly amazing.
No matter what you’re working toward, never underestimate what you can accomplish when you put your whole heart into it. Anything is possible when passion meets perseverance. 🌿💚

07/08/2026

Capital One Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District Meadows Farms Nurseries and Landscape and our incredible crew of HOH volunteers pushed the Kingsley Commons dual garden expansions over the finish line! HOH is now providing growing space, mentorship, supplies and equipment to 47 families and providing three beds to the youth garden club. Thank you, all, for helping to cultivate our gardens and community!

07/08/2026

Capital One Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District Meadows Farms Nurseries and Landscape and our incredible crew of HOH volunteers pushed the Kingsley Commons dual garden expansions over the finish line! HOH is now providing growing space, mentorship, supplies and equipment to 47 families and providing three beds to the youth garden club. Thank you, all, for helping to cultivate our gardens and community!

07/01/2026

Peggy Riccio wrote about our perilla workshop with Virginialicious in her newsletter. Learn about perilla, see what you missed and join us at our July 12 workshop on food preservation: canning, pickling and Trash Soup! Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0549AEA62CA2FCC25-64579642-food?fbclid=IwY2xjawS599hleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE0VXpuV2Y5ajRPck5DaVJNc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHrVGSn3iOgJvgTE_BibPiIiJKw9ElIQQzO3JOY-WIQPBTRbxtUUprbJwSYwK_aem_ggA_OZEsGtepsicFj_8rZg

https://pegplant.com/2026/06/30/using-perilla-leaves-in-korean-cooking/

Spent an evening learning how to grow and use perilla leaves in Korean cooking at this Hands on Harvest workshop with Soomin Kim.

06/30/2026

We're growing food and community! Virginialicious introduced HOH last year to green perilla, donating 16 seedlings. We planted even more of it this year and invited the Annandale food tour company to give a workshop on how to prepare it. We feasted!

If you have a food culture you want to learn more about, let us know. We are planning more workshop potlucks.

06/29/2026

Squashed under a pile of zucchini? In a pickle about what to do about all those cucumbers? Have fun learning how you can extend your harvests through quick and easy food preservation. Sign up for a slot at the QR code below or https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0549AEA62CA2FCC25-64579642-food

06/22/2026

New space and a new tomato patch for our Bo White gardeners! Gardeners in a neighboring plot offered 1/4 of their space just a few days after someone donated 28 bags of shredded hardwood mulch. Our fearless Bo White garden leader quickly put together a plan to use cardboard and mulch to plant 30 additional tomato plants (inc 12 donated seedlings). Yesterday, the enthusiastic and hard-working gardeners brought that plan to life. I can't tag their names, but a good number of these generous people are with Fairfax County Master Gardeners and Camelot Garden Club.