4 H Grow Healthy Kids Program
Volunteer Testimonies

The kids are loving the garden! They feel such a sense of responsibility for it. They are constantly wanting to go outside and take care of our plants. This is a wonderful project!
Hollie Kutz - Brook Glenn Elementary

We had a good class yesterday focusing on photosynthesis. Each child got a diagram of a plant in a vertical cross-section with a sun shining upon it. The paper was designed as something they could take home as well as a way in which they could follow along (i.e., stay a bit focused!). From that, we asked each to add what they were learning in the class. Some went to coloring in the plant, but many added the words from our discussion. Those who wanted to learn, did! Mrs. G. helped by reminding the students that what was being shown in their 'garden club' was part of the curriculum at the school. I think that got a few more to pay attention! We spent the first 40 minutes first filling in the small booklet each student uses to record a glimpse of the day, then most of the time was spent on photosynthesis. Our parade to the garden carried the hose, the water key (Mrs. G. will keep this IN HER DRAWER!), and the watering can. Not too much is growing well in the garden. Broccoli is being attacked by the usual worms/larvae, radishes are trying to peek out, spinach and chard are catching on, and little signs of lettuce or beets or onions. (We had stopped earlier in the day at the Taylors Elem. garden and saw similar situations with the plants. Too bad.) The class cleaned up the area and took the equipment back to their room, and we were finished at 4:20. Anyway, we have a grip on now being able to water on the garden's schedule. The garden was dry probably due to too little water coming from the students carrying water in the watering can. We SOAKED the bed very well from the hose with each student taking a turn. Having a pistol-type nozzle would be a great help as well as a good aid to keep more students dry! We also took samples of cantaloupe, carrot sticks, pineapple cubes, star-fruit, papaya to eat (as yellow and orange fruits). The kids really liked this! There were sweet potato, pumpkin, and Delicata squash as other examples... these were not for eating. Some expressed that they had never eaten any of the fruits we had.
John and Pearl D. - East North Academy

Just wanted to let you know that we had a great time planting the garden on Monday. As the students were getting picked up, the group got smaller and smaller (to only about 4 or 5 students), but we had fun. I even had one parent stay and help out because her daughter didn't want to miss out! I didn't leave until after 6, but it was great fun!
Jennifer Binder -Salvation Army - Boys and Girls Club