Introducing the Troy-Bilt Saturday 6

My recent getaway to Charleston, SC wasn’t simply an escape from the long and cold winter, but the result of an invitation to participate in Troy-Bilt’s Saturday 6 program. I have had very positive experiences with the Troy-Bilt brand so it didn’t take long for me to accept the invitation, join the new Saturday 6 team, and head to South Carolina.

Before I share the details about the program I’d like to introduce the other members of the group:

• Rochelle Greayer is the founder of Pith + Vigor and author of “Cultivating Garden Style.” She gardens in Massachusetts, is a graduate of the English Gardening School in London, and is also a former physicist rocket scientist.
• Erin Schanen is a magazine editor and publishes her blog; The Impatient Gardener. She lives in Wisconsin, previously spent time living in New Zealand, and enjoys sailing and paddle boarding.
• Eric Rochow splits his time between New York City and the Connecticut countryside. His focus is on producing DIY living, gardening, and cooking videos that are hosted on Gardenfork.tv.
• Teresa O’Connor is a public speaker, consultant, master gardener, and co-author of “Grocery Gardening.” Teresa has lived and gardened all over the U.S. and she produces the Seasonal Wisdom website.
• Kim Wilson publishes a DIY/Home blog; Sand & Sisal. Her projects have been featured on HGTV and sites like Better Homes and Gardens. Kim is known as the “southern girl by the sea who creates beauty on a budget.”

The Troy-Bilt Saturday 6 Blogger Program

This marks the third group of gardeners that Troy-Bilt has united to form the Saturday 6. This blogger program is designed to provide a platform for sharing product reviews, offer useful ideas related to gardening, lawn care, and outdoor living, and allow for participation in a variety of community projects.

Over the next few seasons you’ll enjoy content produced and shared via our individual websites as well as over Troy-Bilt channels on Facebook, Instagram, and through “The Dirt eNewsletter.” The content will consist of articles, videos, photos, reviews, and the type of home and garden related tips and ideas that you’d normally find on our websites.

Saturday 6 Gather to Meet and Greet in Charleston SC

The program officially kicked off in March when our group gathered in Charleston, SC to meet with Troy-Bilt representatives and take part in fun activities that included tours of the city and our first chance to meet and greet one another. Day one of the event included a carriage ride through downtown Charleston, a dinner outing, and a chance to meet with Katie Stagliano of Katie’s Krops to learn about how she is “growing a dream” by encouraging vegetable gardening, and through her efforts to help feed the hungry.

On day two we headed out to the Gardens at Middleton Place where we learned about the Troy-Bilt company, their manufacturing operations, product development processes, and the latest products being introduced into their line up. After lunch we headed outdoors for product overviews and then we were turned loose with an assortment of Troy-Built equipment, including some that isn’t even on the market just yet.

It was like kids on a playground with the Saturday 6 operating various pieces of gardening equipment and navigating the temporary Troy-Bilt proving grounds at Middleton Place. After time spent driving, tilling, mowing, cultivating, leaf blowing, riding, pressure washing, and avoiding collisions, we then took a tour of the former rice plantation before heading back to Charleston for an evening dinner gathering.

Exciting New Yard and Garden Products Coming from Troy-Bilt

I enjoyed the opportunity to preview some of the new products that Troy-Bilt is currently releasing, and to learn about other technology that they are developing for the future. I have always been impressed by Troy-Bilt’s innovation from the little things like their handy JumpStart Engine Starters, to bigger items like the new Mustang Pivot, zero-turn riding mower.

It was fun speeding around on the Mustang Pivot, which takes the maneuverability of a zero-turn riding mower and adds a steering wheel to give you the feel and control of a traditional lawn tractor. Another new innovation that we were able to test out was the Bronco Axis garden tiller. This machine uses vertical tines that rotate in opposite directions to produce the smoothest cultivated soil that I have seen, with just a single pass.

Then there was the Troy-Bilt Flex system centered around a “Power Base” unit that houses a single engine that is used to power multiple attachments such as a wide-area mower, a snow thrower, a leaf blower, and a pressure washer (with more to come.) The concept is designed to simplify equipment maintenance, conserve space in the shed or garage, and provide financial savings as you expand your collection of yard and garden equipment.

What’s in Store for the Future of the Saturday 6

Our next steps include each of us selecting a product from the Troy-Bilt line up to write a review and produce a video about. Stay tuned to find out which product we choose and check out the reviews which will be posted on our individual websites. Additionally, we will offer some content for Troy-Bilt’s Facebook page, eNewsletter, and take part in an Instagram takeover.

Troy-Bilt and the Saturday 6 will also be teaming up with Katie’s Krops in various capacities. I am scheduled to assist a young gardener here in Pennsylvania, and help her to create a new garden in the backyard of her church’s youth group house. Parts of this groundbreaking will be filmed in order to share the techniques and gardening ideas to help other new gardeners.

So visit the Troy-Bilt site, subscribe to The Dirt eNewsletter, and like their Facebook page to follow all of the activities of the Saturday 6 Blogger Program. Also check out the websites of all of the Saturday 6 team members and follow them into the new growing season!

Disclosure: The Saturday 6 Blogger Program is sponsored by Troy-Bilt and compensation is provided. For product reviews equipment will be supplied to me free of charge in return for sharing my honest opinions.