In the fall of 2021, the Lewis County ANR Agent and Program Assistant was approached by the Tollesboro Elementary School to do a hands-on gardening project. The goal of the project was to have the have the 4^th grade students to grow a garden at the school so they could learn the following objectives: the importance of soil, growing vegetable to eat, where their food comes from, and an appreciation of growing their own food.  

Lessons were taught to the students by the ANR Agent and Program Assistant.  Lessons included different types of vegetables, parts of the plants we eat, healthy soils, soil testing, starting plants from seed, transplanting, and direct seeding. Students did all the work with hands on learning, every student pulled a soil sample, started seeds indoors, planted seeds directly in the garden, properly transplanted strawberry plants, and were given their own seeds and a tomato plant to take home to start their own garden.

At the end of the series, students reported though a verbal survey they gained knowledge about importance of soil testing, had a better understanding of fertilizer, how to start seeds as transplants, and had an understanding and respect for where their food comes from.