One child asked daily about checking on the carrots, the day they were finally mature enough to harvest he ran around the yard holding them up like a trophy, he was so excited about the carrots!
Head Start Gardens
Providing garden and nutrition education opportunities to young students
Western Growers Foundation has partnered with the California Head Start Foundation since 2006. This partnership brings gardens and nutrition education to California youngest and poorest students. From 2006 through 2008, this partnership resulted in 50 gardens at Head Start sites.
Beginning in 2009, the program has been expanded and funded through a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant. Over three years, this new program will provide 100 Head Start sites with the resources and funding to create a school garden.
The funding, educational resources and garden supplies provide an excellent platform on which to build a school garden program. Through these gardens, both children and parents are provided information about proper nutrition. Educating parents in the principles of good nutrition is a key responsibility for the Head Start program. Five sites will be highlighted in a Preschool Nutrition Gardening Video. This video will highlight nutrition lessons and activities and how to deliver them to a preschool aged audience. The video will be made available to teachers statewide as a training tool and model on which to base their own preschool garden programs.
CF Brown Head Start Modesto, CA