Wayne County CES

Title:

Using school garden and raised beds to facilitate nutrition education

MAP:

Acessing nutritious foods

Agents Involved:

Glen Roberts, Terry Bertram, Danny Adams, KSU small farm, Toni Humble, Debbie Shepherd, Sherry Coffey, Seth Hart, Alta Hutchison

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Horticulture, Commercial

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Master Gardener

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Nutrition and Food Systems General

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

Situation:

Students and their families are unaware of the value of growing and eating fresh fruits and vegetables.  The local school system has suitable land on campus to grow a school garden and raised bed gardens.  The local extension service has an ANR agent with expertise on how to grow a school garden and raised beds to harvest while school is in session.  

Long-Term Outcomes:

Students and their families make lifestyle changes in their diet by choosing to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and to eat more locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables.  Students and their families become healthier from the exercise and sunshine they get from growing their own fruits and vegetables.  Students and their families are healthier because they choose to eat locally grown, fresh fruits and vegetables.  Students and their families are financially more secure and have greater food security because they have learned the value of growing and consuming fresh fruits and vegetables.  Some have learned how to produce more than they consume and to market the rest.  Locally produced fruits and vegetables become an economic addition to our local economy.  

Intermediate Outcomes:

Students grow and eat fresh fruits and vegetables.

Initial Outcomes:

Students learn the value of growing and eating fresh fruits and vegetables.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Students learn the value of growing and eating fresh fruits and vegetables

Indicator: Students exhibit proficiency in their increased knowledge of the value of growing and eating fresh fruits and vegetables

Method: Tests and testimonials

Timeline: 2024-2025

Intermediate Outcome: Students become involved in the production and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables

Indicator: They choose more fresh fruits and vegetables in the school lunch options they have

Method: Student and parent interviews, food service workers observations, more fruits and vegetables are consumed

Timeline: 2024-2025

Long-term Outcome: Students and their families are healthier as a result of growing and consuming fresh fruits and vegetables

Indicator: Fewer days of school missed, fewer days absent from work, fewer visits to the doctor

Method: surveys and interviews

Timeline: 2024-2025

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Students and their families 

Project or Activity: School Garden, Raised Beds 

Content or Curriculum: Plate it Up, KY Proud recipes, Farm to school curriculum, FCS nutrition lessons, University of KY vegetable publications, specialists, and local agents and assistants. 

 

Inputs: FCS and 4-H cooking demonstrations and cooking lessons, Inputs necessary to plan, plant, grow and harvest fruits and vegetables.

Date: 2024-2025

 

Audience: Students that eat in the school lunch program 

Project or Activity: Grow and harvest produce to be used in the school food service program 

Content or Curriculum: University of KY publications, recipes, and marketing principles 

Inputs: Vocational Agriculture Program, FCS program, community volunteers, school food service program, 4-H program

Date: 2024-2025

Success Stories