The Common Soil Collective

06/18/2026

Pull Up a Pot Thursday🪴 🍉

Today we’re talking about BIG melons.

One of our community supporters recently shared this incredible newspaper clipping from the Ashland Daily Independent dated September 27, 1974.

The article features her great-uncle, Ernest Martin of Hopewell, proudly showing off one of his giant watermelons. According to the article, the largest watermelon harvested from his patch weighed an astounding 85 pounds! 🍉😲

Carol shared that Ernest grew Charleston Grey watermelons, a variety still beloved by many gardeners today for their sweet flavor, heat tolerance and impressive size.

Now, we have questions…

🌱Have you ever grown watermelons?
🌱 What’s the largest watermelon (or pumpkin, tomato, cucumber, etc) you’ve ever harvested?
🌱 Do you have any garden stories, photos or family gardening traditions you’d like to share?

Gardening isn’t just about growing plants; it’s about growing stories, memories and connections that can be passed down through generations.

And if anyone harvests an 85 pound watermelon from the Community Garden this year, we fully expect photographic evidence! 😆🍉

Happy gardening, friends! 💚

06/18/2026

🌷🌱 FLOWER POWER FUNDRAISER IS HERE! 🌱🌷

The Common Soil Collective is excited to announce our Flower Power Fundraiser!

When you shop through our fundraiser; you’ll find a beautiful selection of flower bulbs, perennials, seed collections and garden gifts; all while supporting our community gardening and environmental education programs right here!

💚 Proceeds help support:
🌱 Our Free Seed Library at Briggs Library
🌱 Open Door Sprouts Junior Garden Club
🌱 Community Garden programming
🌱 Educational workshops and community events

🛒 How it works:

1. Visit:
CommonSoil.fpfundraising.com
2. Browse and place your order online.
3. Orders will be shipped directly to you.
4. Plant your bulbs this fall and enjoy beautiful blooms next spring!

📅 Ordering is open now through October 15th and shipping begins September 1st!

Many spring favorites; including tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, alliums, and crocus; must be planted in the fall before the ground freezes. Fall planting gives bulbs time to establish roots and rewards gardeners with gorgeous spring color after a long winter. 💐

Whether you’re planning next year’s flower beds, looking for pollinator-friendly plants or searching for a unique gift for a gardener; there’s something for everyone.

Thank you for helping us grow community, one seed (and now one bulb) at a time. 🌷💚

🔗 CommonSoil.fpfundraising.com

Flower Power Fundraising helps support groups, causes and communities using an earth-friendly alternative to traditional fundraising through the sale of flowers, bulbs and perennials that can be enjoyed for years to come!

06/17/2026

🌻🌱 The Common Soil Collective will be joining the Bobcat Community Farmers Market this Saturday!🌱🌻

Stop by and visit us! We’ll have a selection of plants, garden goodies and a few fun surprises available for purchase to help support our programming!

We’ll also be bringing our ‘Mobile Free Seed Library’, so whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started, you’re welcome to browse and take home some seeds at no cost. 💚

And because June is pumpkin planting season, we’ll be helping visitors start their very own free pumpkin plant to take home and grow! 🎃

We love connecting with fellow gardeners, plant lovers and curious beginners; so come say hello, ask questions, share garden stories and spend some time with us!

We can’t wait to see everyone at the market! 🌻🍅🎃🌱

Franklin Furnace Community Based Farmers Market

06/11/2026

🌱📚 GROW WITH US THIS SUMMER! 📚🌱

Love books? Love plants? Why not enjoy both?

The Common Soil Collective is excited to partner with Briggs Lawrence County Public Library-Ironton Branch for the ‘Adult Summer Reading Challenge: Grow With Us!’

From May 26 – July 25, participants enrolled in the library’s summer reading program can complete three simple activities and earn a FREE plant from The Common Soil Collective! 🌿

✅ Read a nature-themed book
✅ Visit the Briggs Seed Library and take home some seeds
✅ Attend a nature-themed program at the library

Once you’ve completed all three activities, turn in your card at the library and receive your plant!

This challenge is a fun way to explore the natural world, discover new books, connect with your community and maybe even grow something amazing along the way. 🌻

A huge thank you to Briggs Library for continuing to create opportunities for lifelong learning and community engagement. We are thrilled to be part of this year’s Summer Reading Program!

📖🌱 Stop by the Ironton Branch to get started!

06/11/2026

🪴Pull Up a Pot Thursday🪴

Can we talk about the bane of every gardener’s existence for a minute?

🌧️☀️ Ohio weather.

One week we need a boat, the next we’re dragging hoses around wondering if our tomatoes have filed a formal complaint. And this June? It’s been a special kind of chaos. 😂

So how do you know if your garden actually needs water?

🌱 Skip the “looks dry” test and try the finger test instead! Stick your finger 1-2 inches into the soil. If it’s cool and moist, your plants are probably doing just fine. If it’s dry, dusty and crumbly, it’s time to water.

🌻 At the Community Garden, remember that the top layer of soil can look dry even when there’s plenty of moisture underneath. Before reaching for the hose, check the soil below the surface.

💧 Water deeply and less often. A long, slow soak encourages roots to grow deeper and makes plants more resilient during hot stretches.

☀️ Water early in the morning when possible. You’ll lose less water to evaporation and your plants will have what they need before the afternoon heat rolls in.

🍅 Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash and newly planted seedlings will usually be the first to let you know they’re thirsty.

🍂 Mulch is your best friend! A layer of straw, shredded leaves or mulch helps keep moisture in the soil and reduces the number of times you’ll need to water.

And remember, a little afternoon droop on a 90° day doesn’t always mean a plant needs water. Many plants wilt temporarily in extreme heat and perk back up as temperatures cool.

If you’re visiting the Community Garden and aren’t sure whether something needs watered, don’t be afraid to check the soil first. Sometimes the kindest thing we can do for a plant is leave it alone. 💚

Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be watching the forecast, checking the radar, and trying to decipher whatever mood Ohio has decided to be in this week…🤷‍♀️🌦️

Happy growing friends! 🌱

06/10/2026

Come see us tomorrow at Kids Club at the Ironton Branch! 🌱🔍

Have you ever looked closely at a seed and wondered what story it holds?

Join The Common Soil Collective as we explore ‘Seeds Are Living Time Capsules’ a hands-on adventure where young gardeners will investigate seeds using magnifying glasses and tweezers, just like real scientists!

Together we’ll discover how tiny seeds carry the instructions for future flowers, vegetables and pollinator-friendly gardens. We’ll compare shapes, sizes, textures, and learn why every seed holds a story waiting to unfold!

We can’t wait to dig into the world of seeds with you as part of Briggs Lawrence County Public Library Summer Reading Program, Unearth a Story! 📚🌱

06/10/2026

Rooted Together Wednesday 💛💙🌱

This week, we’re excited to shine a spotlight on Grow This WV, an incredible program that is helping people across West Virginia and beyond; discover the joy of growing their own food, flowers and community!

Through seed sharing, gardening education, encouragement and outreach; Grow This WV has inspired thousands of new and experienced gardeners alike. Their commitment to making gardening accessible has created a ripple effect that continues to spread throughout our region!

Here in the Tri-State, we’ve been fortunate to experience that generosity firsthand! Not only have they shared seeds and resources with our community, but they also helped stock the display at our very own Free Seed Library at Briggs Library! 🌱📚

Programs like Grow This WV remind us that gardening is about so much more than plants. It’s about neighbors helping neighbors, sharing knowledge, building confidence and growing stronger communities together!

From all of us at The Common Soil Collective; thank you Grow This WV, for your kindness, partnership and dedication to helping people put seeds in the ground and hope in their hearts! 💛🌱

Be sure to check out the Free Seed Library at Briggs Library and help us continue the cycle of sharing, growing, and giving back to our community!

06/09/2026

🥬 Lettuce Introduce Ourselves Tuesday 🥬

This week we’re excited to introduce one of our wonderful Collective Gardeners, Jenni Cassity! 🌿💚

If you’ve ever admired a beautiful porch overflowing with greenery, a perfectly tended flower bed or a thriving collection of houseplants, there’s a good chance Jenni was behind it! She has a special gift for creating welcoming spaces that feel full of life, color, and joy.

🌱 What are your favorite things to grow?

“My favorite things to grow indoors are snake plants because of their beautiful green color and hardiness, burro’s tail succulents for the fun displays hanging over flower pots and of course Old Man Cacti because I feel like I’m rescuing them from Lowe’s!”

“Outdoors, I love to grow macho ferns for the huge display of greenery on my porch, rose bushes for their vibrant colors and landscaping shrubs and perennials to make my home look inviting to friends and family.”

🌻 What do you love most about gardening?

“I love having a tidy yard to brighten my home, with plants bringing life all around me.”

Jenni’s love for gardening shines through everything she grows. Whether she’s rescuing a cactus, filling her porch with lush ferns or tending beautiful roses; she creates spaces that make people feel welcome and at home. We’re so grateful to have her as part of The Common Soil Collective! 💚🌱

06/08/2026

What’s Growing Monday? ☀️

Last Friday, we had the sweetest time at All Nestled Inn’s Garden Party! 🍓Our young garden friends decorated pollinator seed shakers and we hope they have the most amazing growing season watching their flowers bloom! 🐝🌼

This week, we’ll be joining the Briggs Lawrence County Public Library Ironton Kids Club as we explore seeds as “time capsules” and discover the incredible stories hidden inside some of nature’s tiniest treasures. 🌱🔍

The Briggs Summer Reading Program, Unearth a Story, is officially underway, and we can’t wait to dig into a summer full of books, creativity and hands-on learning with our young gardeners and explorers! 📚🦕

Then on Friday, we’re hopping across the river to visit our homeschool friends at the Flatwoods Branch of Greenup County Public Libraries, where we’ll be talking all things bugs! 🐞🦋🐛

We hope to see lots of familiar faces out and about this week. Whether you’re joining us at the library, in the community garden or at one of our community events; there’s always something growing at Common Soil! 💚

06/04/2026

🪴 Pull Up a Pot Thursday 🪴

This week, let’s talk about one of our favorite little community resources; the Free Seed Library Briggs Lawrence County Public Library Ironton Branch! 💛🌱

One tiny seed can grow into food, flowers, pollinator habitat, memories with your kids or even a lifelong love of gardening. That’s why we’re so passionate about keeping free seeds available to our community! 🌼✨

Did you know our seed library is stocked entirely through donations, seed sharing and the generosity of gardeners who believe growing should be accessible to everyone? 💛

If you’ve ever borrowed seeds from the library, we’d love to hear what you planted this year! 🌱

And if you’re cleaning out your seed stash and find extra packets you’ll never use (we are looking at you, people with enough lettuce seeds for the next 37 years 😂), consider donating them to help keep the library growing!

This week we’re especially grateful to everyone who has helped stock the seed library through donations, seed saving and sharing. Every packet placed in those drawers is another opportunity for someone to grow something beautiful! 🌼🌿

After all, gardening is one of the few hobbies where sharing a handful of seeds can create hundreds more! 💛🌱

Have seeds to donate? Let us know! We’d love to help put them into the hands of future gardeners! 🌿✨