Grow Healthy Kids

The Grow Healthy Kids school garden program is an initiative to improve children’s poor eating habits, to correct the chronic problem of childhood obesity and diabetes and to encourage children to protect the environment and being good stewards of the Earth. The primary motivation behind this project is to introduce kids to natural and sustainable agriculture and influence them on healthier lifestyle choices. One such choice is eating foods grown organically. These foods enhance the health of the individual and the world we live in because they are grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and genetically modified seeds.

The program is available to public schools due to support from the Clemson Cooperative Extension Service, local businesses and through donations individuals from the community.

In response to the poor nutritional status of today’s youth, the Grow Healthy Kids program aims to help kids learn good nutrition and environmental habits by way of engaging them in horticultural activities that are educational and fun.

The Grow Heathy Kids curriculum follow the teachings of established programs such as the Junior Master Gardener and the Health and Nutrition from the Garden created by the Texas Cooperative Extension Service and the Texas A & M University.

The Grow Healthy Kids is an unique out-reach program because it addresses the health of school age children through hands on gardening activities, nutrition and environmental education. When children learn about sustainable living and healthy nutrition they also learn to take responsibility for their health and how their actions impact the environment.

 

This program receives support from the 4-H of Greenville County and Clemson Extension Service.