Success StoryGrowing a Brighter Future



Growing a Brighter Future

Author: Tasha Tucker

Planning Unit: Breckinridge County CES

Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

According to Feeding America, 14.7% of Breckinridge county children struggle with food insecurity. Food insecure children are likely to be sick more often, recover from illness more slowly, and hospitalized more often. Children who are food insecure also struggle to concentrate and focus and has been linked to higher levels of  behavioral and emotional problems from preschool to adolescents, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. In order to combat this huge issue Breckinridge County Nutrition Education Assistant and Breckinridge County Library partnered to use the Arbor Grant to build and utilize community raised beds at 5 of the local schools. At each school, two to four raised beds were planted, weeded, watered, tended by the children and staff.  

 

Grow it, Try It, Like It curriculum was taught to the kindergarten to third grade children. Kids were also given hands on experience, planting seeds of watermelon, beans, and marigolds. Seeds were used as experiments and further study in the classroom. Children also took the plants home and were encouraged to plant them and make their own garden. Children throughout the community would see the assistant and librarian out in Breckinridge county and tell them how big the plants had grown at the school and also the plants that had been planted to take home. 

 "For If you give a man a fish, you feed him for the day. and he will eat for a day. If you teach him to fish, you will feed him for a lifetime."






Stories by Tasha Tucker


Full Circle of Extension

about 4 years ago by Tasha Tucker

Breckinridge County has a 24% obesity rate and 69% report being overweight. Only 15% report eating f... Read More


Feed My Sheep

about 4 years ago by Tasha Tucker

Jesus said, “If you love me, feed my sheep”, Restoration Church has taken these red letter words and... Read More


Stories by Breckinridge County CES


Ripple Effect Mapping in Breckinridge County

Ripple Effect Mapping in Breckinridge County

about 3 years ago by Alexandria Bryant

On October 12, 2020, Breckinridge County 4-H leaders hosted a community development program designed... Read More


Youth Livestock Shows during a pandemic

about 3 years ago by Carol Hinton

Youth Livestock Shows during a pandemicThe volunteers in the area really came together to make sure ... Read More