NET Health LGEG Program Wraps Up a Growing Season with GreenStalk Recognition
This summer, the Center for Healthy Living partnered with the Smith County AgriLife Extension office and Smith County Master Gardeners to bring the Learn, Grow, Eat & Go program to East Texas students.
Over the course of the 10-week program, 20 children learned that healthy living can happen far beyond a classroom. Participants planted seeds, cared for vegetables, learned about pollinators and pests, tried new foods, stayed active and experienced firsthand where food comes from.
The garden itself became part of the classroom.
Using GreenStalk vertical planters, the children helped grow tomatoes, peppers, okra, herbs, green beans, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, flowers and even dwarf corn. Each week brought something new to discover as participants watched the garden change from planting to harvest.
The program also gave children specific roles in caring for the garden. From Pollinator Spotters and Water Managers to Garden Guardians, Garden Detectives and Garden Scientists, participants had an opportunity to take ownership of the garden and contribute to its success.
As the season comes to a close, that work has received recognition beyond East Texas.
GreenStalk Garden recently featured the Center for Healthy Living and the LGEG program in a story titled, "How a Community Garden Is Helping Kids Grow."
The feature shares the story behind the garden, the children's experiences throughout the summer and how the program created opportunities to teach lessons that extended beyond fruits and vegetables.
For NET Health and the Center for Healthy Living, the end of the season isn't the end of the garden.
The lessons learned during this first season will continue to grow as the Center explores future opportunities to introduce more children to gardening, nutrition, physical activity and the experience of growing their own food.
We are grateful to the Smith County AgriLife Extension office, Smith County Master Gardeners, GreenStalk Garden, our community partners, participating families and, most importantly, the young gardeners who made this season such a success.
The first growing season may be over, but we're already looking forward to what we'll grow next.
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