The Common Soil Collective

10/16/2026

🪿🌱 WE HAVE A NEW MEMBER OF THE COMMON SOIL FAMILY… AND WE NEED YOUR HELP! 🌱🪿

Well, folks. It appears our little seed library at Briggs Lawrence County Public Library Ironton has acquired a new employee.

Does this employee have gardening experience? Doubtful.

Does this employee have any intention of helping organize seed packets? Absolutely not.

Does this employee look fabulous standing guard over our free seed library? YOU BET YOUR FEATHERS! 🤣

But we have one little problem…

OUR GOOSE DOESN’T HAVE A NAME! 😱

And we simply cannot have an unnamed goose representing the The Common Soil Collective. We have standards around here (questionable standards, but standards nonetheless)! 😂

So we’re officially launching our…

🪿🏆 NAME THAT GOOSE CONTEST! 🏆🪿

Here’s how it works:

🌱 Step 1: Drop your best goose name suggestion in the comments below!

🌱 Step 2: We’ll collect name suggestions through Friday, October 23!

🌱 Step 3: We’ll choose some favorites and let YOU vote in a community poll to officially name our feathered friend!

Funny names? Encouraged.

Gardening puns? HIGHLY encouraged.

Ridiculously sophisticated names for a plastic goose? We absolutely support that! 🤣

Our new friend is already settling into life at Briggs, keeping a watchful eye on the seed library and hopefully encouraging a few more folks to take home some seeds! 💚🪿

👇🏼LET’S HEAR THOSE NAMES!

10/15/2026

🪴🍂 PULL UP A POT THURSDAY! 🍂🪴

Alright, gardeners… HOW ARE WE LOOKING OUT THERE?! 👀😂

Fall has officially entered the garden, and things are looking a little different than they did a few months ago!

Some of us still have tomatoes hanging on for dear life, peppers refusing to quit and flowers putting on one last beautiful show. 🌻🍅

Others have crispy vines, weeds that have apparently claimed squatter’s rights and garden beds that look like they’ve been through a natural disaster. 😂

Here’s your friendly reminder that gardening isn’t always picture perfect. Every season teaches us something and sometimes the most productive thing we can do is put the garden to bed and start dreaming about next year.

But here’s a little secret… fall doesn’t mean gardening is over! 🌱

While we’re cleaning up summer’s leftovers, we can also be planting for next spring! And one of our favorite things to plant this time of year is GARLIC! 🧄

Which brings us to a little invitation…

🧄🌱 GARLIC WORKSHOP! 🌱🧄

📅 Saturday, October 24th
⏰ 1:00pm
📍 Briggs Lawrence County Public Library-Ironton Branch

Join the Common Soil Collective as we learn when and how to plant garlic in the fall for a delicious harvest next season!

And because we don’t believe in sending you home with just knowledge, we’ll be giving away garlic bulbs for you to plant in your own garden! 💚

Just in time to keep those pesky vampires out of your yard for Halloween! 🧛‍♂️🤣

📸 NOW IT’S YOUR TURN!

We want to see what your garden looks like RIGHT NOW!

🍁Still harvesting? Show us!
🍁Putting your beds to sleep? Let’s see!
🍁Haven’t touched your garden since August and you’re afraid of what might be living in there? WE ESPECIALLY WANT TO SEE YOURS! 😂

👇🏼Drop a photo of your current garden situation in the comments! NO JUDGMENT, just gardeners growing and learning together. Because around here; we celebrate the beautiful harvests, the spectacular failures and everything in between! ♥️

10/14/2026

🍄 THERE’S A FUNGUS AMONG US! 🍄

And our friends at Briggs Lawrence County Public Library have something pretty spore-tacular coming up! 😂🌱

Ever wondered how to grow your own mushrooms? Well here’s your chance to learn! 🤓

The first of two programs on Mushrooms is tomorrow at our Ironton branch at 5:00. Come join Jillian as she teaches us how to grow our own.

10/14/2026

🌱💚 ROOTED TOGETHER WEDNESDAY! 💚🌱

Around here, we believe a strong community grows when people show up for one another. And this week, we’re giving a little love to some folks who do just that!

🛍️ Makers Market on Vernon! 🛍️

You know that store where you walk in needing ONE little thing and somehow leave with six things you absolutely didn’t know you needed but now cannot possibly live without?! 😂 Well, that’s Makers Market on Vernon!

From unique gifts and handmade treasures to all those wonderful little knickknacks that make life a little more fun; Makers Market brings something special to our downtown shopping community. ❤️

But what makes this local gem even more special is the heart behind it.

The owners don’t just operate a business in our community. They invest in the people and organizations that make it a community.

Through their support of organizations like Harvest for the Hungry and our local Kiwanis; they’re helping make a difference far beyond their storefront.

And we were fortunate enough to experience that generosity ourselves! 🌻

Makers Market on Vernon generously provided a raffle item for our recent Plant Bingo Night, helping us raise funds to keep Common Soil’s gardening and environmental education programs free and accessible to our neighbors!

It’s these acts of kindness, big and small, that remind us why supporting local matters so much.

When you shop at a locally owned business, you’re doing more than making a purchase. You’re supporting neighbors who turn around and support the very community we all call home.

So here’s your friendly Wednesday reminder to shop local, show some love and stop by Makers Market on Vernon! And don’t blame us when you leave with a few extra treasures! 😂🛍️

To the wonderful folks at Makers Market, THANK YOU for your generosity, your community spirit and for helping us grow! 💚

10/13/2026

🌱 LETTUCE INTRODUCE OURSELVES TUESDAY! 🥬💚

This week, we’re introducing you to something a little different… the organization that gave Common Soil a place to grow! ❤️

Did you know that The Common Soil Collective is an initiative of Third and Center?

When Common Soil was just a little seed of an idea; Third & Center believed in what we were trying to create: a community where people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds and gardening experience could come together, learn from one another and find a little common ground. Sometimes quite literally in the dirt! 😂🌱

Because of that support, we’ve been able to bring free gardening and environmental education programs to our community, build partnerships, create opportunities for volunteers and connect people through plants, seeds and shared experiences.

And now? We’re dreaming even bigger. 🌻

Third & Center is working to transform the former Bartram & Son building into a community center; a welcoming space where neighbors can gather, create, learn and grow together!

And oh, the things we’re dreaming up for Common Soil! 🪴

🌱 Year round gardening education: Indoor seed-starting, propagation and hands-on workshops; even when it’s too cold to dig in the dirt!

🍅 From seed to supper: Growing seedlings indoors to transplant into our community garden, expanding access to fresh produce and teaching practical food-growing skills.

🥫 Grow it. Cook it. Preserve it! With a commercial kitchen in the vision, imagine learning how to turn those extra garden tomatoes into homemade sauce or preserve peppers to enjoy long after summer ends!

🌻 More room to grow: Additional raised garden beds, accessible learning opportunities and intergenerational programs that bring children, adults and seniors together.

💚 A home for connection: A place to share seeds, stories, knowledge and a whole lot of laughter.

These are the kinds of opportunities that can help families stretch their food budgets, reduce food waste, develop lifelong skills and build a stronger, more connected community.

But making this vision a reality takes all of us.

Third & Center has launched a $100,000 community building fundraising campaign and every contribution helps move us closer to opening the doors to something wonderful!

💙 Want to contribute? Visit:
www.thirdandcenter.com/donate

And please hear us when we say this: If donating isn’t possible right now, you can STILL help us grow! ❤️

🌿 Share this flyer and help spread the word.
🌿 Attend our free programs and bring a friend.
🌿 Volunteer your time or share a skill.
🌿 Tell your neighbors about Third & Center and Common Soil.
🌿 Share your ideas for what you’d love to see in this future community space!

Community isn’t built by one person writing a big check. It’s built by people showing up, sharing what they can and believing that something better is possible when we work together.

Nobody has to provide everything. Everybody brings what they can. And together, we grow something that belongs to all of us. 🌱❤️

So this Tuesday, we’re not just introducing you to Third & Center. We’re inviting you to be part of what comes next.

Rooted in Ironton, branching into our community. 💚

10/12/2026

🌱🍂 WHAT’S GROWING MONDAY?! 🍂🌱

Well, this week we’re doing something a little unusual around here… NOTHING! 😂

Okay, not nothing, but we don’t have any workshops or events on the calendar this week; so we’re encouraging everyone to get outside, enjoy all things FALL and soak up this beautiful season! 🍁🎃

You know, between the hurricane leftovers, rain and whatever else Mother Nature has up her sleeve. 🤣☔

But before we turn the page on another week, we have to talk about PLANT BINGO NIGHT! 🌿💚🪩

Our hearts are STILL so full. ♥️

Looking around that room Thursday evening and seeing so many familiar faces, new friends, excited bingo players and people coming together to support something we love so dearly was genuinely overwhelming in the very best way. Yes, we raised money to keep Common Soil growing and our programs accessible to everyone. And that is something we’re incredibly grateful for.

But the real magic wasn’t in the money raised.

It was in every excited BINGO, every laugh shared across a table, every cup refilled, every visit to our little seed library and every beautiful plant that headed home with someone new. 🥹🪴

It was watching a room full of people come together over something as simple as playing bingo for houseplants.

THAT is Common Soil.

It’s never been just about plants. It’s about the people we meet, the friendships we growand the little moments that remind us how much good can come from gathering together.

To everyone who purchased a ticket, sponsored a round, donated, volunteered, helped set up, cleaned up or simply showed up ready to have a good time; THANK YOU. You are the reason we get to keep planting these little seeds of connection throughout our community. ❤️

📸 Now we want to see YOUR Bingo Night memories!

We’re sharing some of our favorite photos from the evening, but we know there were plenty of cameras snapping away!

Did you take any pictures at Plant Bingo? Drop them in the comments below! We would LOVE to see the evening through your eyes! 📸🌻

Here’s to a quieter week, a little autumn sunshine (fingers crossed) and a whole lot of gratitude! ♥️

Thank you Hannah McCarty Photography for capturing our special night! 📷

10/10/2026

🌻🌱 We’re at Festival of the Hills at Ohio University-Southern and we’d LOVE to see you!

The Common Soil Collective and Third and Center are spending this beautiful Saturday celebrating the people, plants, art and stories that make Appalachia so special! 💚

Our Seeds of Appalachia: Growing Our Stories display is all set up and we’ve got a little something for everyone!

🌱 FREE seeds to take home and grow
🎨 A mini seed packet decorating station for the kiddos
🍂 A chance to share your favorite family gardening memories
💚 Information about Common Soil, our programs and ways to get involved!

Did your grandma grow the best green beans? Did your papaw have a tomato patch that was his pride and joy? We want to hear about it!

🎨 AND DON’T MISS THE INSPIRE ART SHOW!

Our Third & Center family, alongside Acorn & Oak Photography; is bringing The Inspire Art Show 2026: Cultivating Creativity to Ohio University Southern today at 2pm! Come celebrate creativity and the incredible artistic talent in our community!

We’re here until 5pm and Festival of the Hills is FREE and open to everyone!

Come enjoy the music, art, vendors and all the wonderful things happening today. And while you’re here, pull up a pot and say hello! 🪴

Because whether we’re growing gardens, sharing stories, or creating art, it’s all about bringing our community together. ❤️

10/07/2026

🪴🎱 ONE MORE SLEEP UNTIL PLANT BINGO!!!! 🪩🍂

Tomorrow we’re yelling BINGO, grazing on goodies and trying to convince ourselves we have room for ONE more plant. Spoiler: we will find room. 🤣🪴

🎟️ FYI…we have just EIGHT more spots to play! If you or your bingo buddy haven’t reserved tickets, now’s the time! You don’t want to be left out in the cornfield while we’re inside winning plants. 🌽😂

Reserve here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1siD7Z9OGDE6py3-QA53Ej4e9NL3bphBPyZ48KzxeTSw/viewform

The plant prizes are ready for their new homes, and Mandy’s Mystery Round is keeping her secrets. 🤭🖤

🚪 Doors open at 5:30pm
🎱 Bingo starts at 6pm
📍 Ironton Senior Center Second Floor, 202 Park Ave, Ironton
🎟️ $25 per person, Presale reservations required!

📬 Ticket holders: check your email for everything you need to know!

🍬 Don’t forget; bring an unopened bag of individually wrapped candy for our upcoming trunk-or-treats and receive FOUR extra bingo cards! More bags are welcome, but still only four cards per person, you generous little overachievers. 😂👻

Who’s ready?! Drop a 🪴 below and bring that lucky bingo energy tomorrow!

Please complete this form and submit payment to reserve your spot. Space is limited.

10/06/2026

🌱 LETTUCE INTRODUCE OURSELVES TUESDAY! 🌱

Except today, we’re introducing ourselves to the HANDFUL OF PEOPLE who still need Plant Bingo tickets. 😂🪴

Hi. Hello. We’re The Common Soil Collective and apparently our love language is giving away really freaking good houseplants while yelling BINGO! 😂

🪴 PLANT BINGO NIGHT
📅 THIS THURSDAY, October 8th
⏰ 6pm-8pm
📍 Ironton Senior Center 202 Park Avenue
🎟️ ONLY A FEW TICKETS REMAIN!

Your $25 ticket includes 15 rounds of Bingo, TWO cards per round, a dauber, light refreshments and 15 chances to take home one of our gorgeous plant prizes! 🌿

And because we know some of you are competitive little gardeners, extra cards will be available for $2 during any round when you REALLY want that plant.

🚨 REMINDER: THIS IS A PRESALE EVENT! Registration AND payment are required to reserve your seat. Once these last few tickets are claimed, that's it!

So today's introduction is simple:

Hi, we're Common Soil. 🌱
We have a few Bingo tickets.
You want one.
We both know it. 😂

Come play plants with us Thursday! 🪴🎱💚

Tag your Bingo buddy, share this post, and HELP US SELL THESE LAST FEW DANG TICKETS! 😂🙌

10/05/2026

🌱 WHAT’S GROWING MONDAY?! 🌱

Ohhhh friends… THIS WEEK IS GROWING A WHOLE LOT! Buckle up because Common Soil has a big week ahead of us! 😊

🥭 TUESDAY-PAWPAWS!
We’re joining our friends at Ohio State - Lawrence County Extension and Briggs Lawrence County Public Library for Pawpaws: America’s Forgotten Fruit, Ohio’s Native Treasure at 5pm in Ironton! Come learn about the history, folklore and Appalachian roots of this wonderfully weird native fruit and YES, we’re tasting it! 💚

🪴 THURSDAY-PLANT BINGO NIGHT!!! IT. IS. FINALLY. HERE. 🎉
6pm-8pm at the Ironton Senior Center!
We still have a few tickets remaining, but once they’re gone, they’re GONE! As a reminder, Plant Bingo is PRESALE; registration and payment are required to reserve your seat.

15 rounds. 15 plant prizes. Raffles. Snacks. Shenanigans. ZERO SAD HOUSEPLANTS. 🌿🪩

🍂 SATURDAY-FESTIVAL OF THE HILLS!
Come find Common Soil at Ohio University-Southern from 10am-5pm! We’ll be celebrating our Appalachian growing traditions with Seeds of Appalachia: Growing Our Stories 🌱 We’ve got seeds, stories, family garden memories and plenty of hands-on fun planned!

Three events. Five days.

Apparently we looked at October and said, “Yes, let’s do everything.” 😂🌱

We cannot WAIT to grow, learn, play some Bingo and celebrate this community with you this week. 💚

Happy What’s Growing Monday, friends! 🌱🍂