In Whitley County an estimated 25.7% of the residents live in poverty and an estimated 33.9% were children younger than 18 in 2018.  According to the U.S. Census estimates for 2019, the median household income in Kentucky is 20% lower than the U.S. Median household income.  (U.S. Census Bureau Small Area and Income Poverty Estimates), and with that being said, the Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Assistant is hoping that this year will help to get a gardening program one step closer to fruition at various locations through collaborative efforts and hands-on nutrition education classes presented to limited resource audiences.

With poverty, comes food insecurity, which can result in poor health conditions, so with the various partners which include the Save the Children Federation, the local School Family Resource and Youth Service Coordinators, along with the Whitley County Extension EFNEP Assistant and the Whitley County Horticulture Agent, came about the second year of the “Plant, Grow, Learn” project.  The participants that made up this program, consisted of families/adults and their children that showed the interest in this project, once it was presented by the different community partners.  

There are many ways that we benefit from gardening, it helps to fill the gap of food shortages, and with the family working together, it helps to teach sustainability, helps children with their reading and math skills, and being more physically active.   Gardening also helps our bodies to absorb Vitamin D.  Vitamin D not only helps to strengthen our bones and immune system but helps lower your risk of different diseases. Gardening builds strength and helps with our weight.  It also helps the functioning of our brain and is a mood booster.  In another study people in addiction rehabilitation programs, benefited from gardening.  It also helps boost self-confidence.

Through this gardening program and the different partners sharing their area of expertise with the group on a monthly basis, participants receive books to help increase childhood literacy, Food Preservation Books and publications so that the families can not only have fresh garden produce, but they also learn safe ways to store food for their families.  These families have also been given items to make a raised bed or container gardening.   These are just a few of the items and areas that all the collaborators help them to be successful.  One family shared that this program helped them to learn different things such as but not limited to soil testing, that resulted in the best tomato crop they ever had, and how they learned better food safety preservation practices.  

Just a few comments on one of our surveys;

“This program has been super beneficial for our family.  It has provided us with knowledge and resources to help us grow our own food!”   

This quote was from one of our grandparents raising their grandchildren, “Our grandkids got interested in gardening, allowing quality family time, they learned to plant, harvest, and to help preserve food.”