Gift of Gardening

Before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of schools across North Carolina, Leicester Elementary School's fourth-grade students were set to start their own school garden this spring.

BCS Communications

Before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of schools across North Carolina, Leicester Elementary School's fourth-grade students were set to start their own school garden this spring. Now – with help from the BCS Family Resource Center- the seeds (as they are available) will be passed out to the community.

Thanks to the Seeding Home Gardens program, families will be given a variety of seeds such as leafy greens and other vegetables. Juliet Eirikis, a Health Nutrition Educator with the NC Cooperative Extension, says this project is a creative way to continue education about gardening and nutrition and encourage kids to get outside and stay active.

“Gardening offers kids hands-on opportunities to learn about growing food while also increasing their access to fresh fruits and vegetables,” Eirikis said. “Kids love trying fruits and vegetables that they have grown, and the knowledge they gain from this experience often overlaps with their STEM learning in school. Not only is it great for learning (and eating), gardening can be a good physical activity for both kids and adults, and it creates a fun family-friendly event!”

The Seeding Home Gardens program is part of a larger program, Steps to Health, which can be accessed through Buncombe Cooperative Extension.

“Steps to Health strives to make healthy choices the easy choices and encourage our program participants to be active,” Eirikis said. “I want to give a special thanks to Melinda Rogers and Joe and Jessica Holt at Erwin High for helping us start the plan for the garden beds to be built and to the Buncombe County Extension Master Gardener team for the grant and expertise!”

The Buncombe Cooperative Extension office is available to answer any questions about home gardening, nutrition, and food safety at (828) 255-5522, or visit their website https://buncombe.ces.ncsu.edu/.

Thanks to the BCS Family Resource center for helping facilitate this project.

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