For the 3^rd year in a row, students from CCES second grade classes got a hand’s on lesson in nutrition and gardening by creating their very own Window Sill Garden.  Through the collaboration of the Crittenden County Extension Service Ag, 4-H and EFNEP Assistant, students have been receiving education about better nutrition, how to make healthier food choices, and lessons in how seeds sprout and grow and then planting their own seeds to begin a Window Sill Garden in their classroom.

The idea got started 3 years ago when one of the teachers contacted our extension office because she wanted hands on enrichment education to teach kids how seeds sprout and grow and then provide hands on learning by actually planting a salad garden in their classroom window sill. Over the last 3 years, students have planted leaf lettuce, beets, radishes, celery and carrots in recycled containers. The 2^nd grade teachers were delighted that not only were kids able to learn about plants, but they were also able to apply math skills by measuring the plants each day and were also able to learn about the water cycle because of the recycled containers that were used.  The students were excited to know that they were able to watch the garden grow right there in their classroom. 

After the seeds had time to grown in to plants and the lettuce was harvestable, we held a salad tasting for all of the students so they could taste what they had been growing. We throw a big Garden Party where many youth try salad and many other healthy vegetables for the first time. Students get excited and more eager to try new things when they have been growing it in their classroom. Over the past 3 years, we have grown from one 2^nd grade classroom participating the first year to incorporating the entire second grade the last 2 years.  We have reached over 200+ students with trying health vegetables and better understanding how plants grow through this project.  

Youth better understand that’s it’s easy to grow a garden and that you do not need a lot of space and can in fact, use recycled containers. 77% of the students report that they enjoy watching their gardens grown.  34% of students tried salad for the first time with 71% of them trying a new vegetable for the first time because of this project.  52% of youth report that they will continue to eat salad in the future and 55% reporting that they will eat more vegetables after trying the salad and other vegetables. 63% of youth reported that they will help parents or grandparents grow a garden at their homes.  Because of this project 57% of youth will make healthier choices because of what they have learned through this collaborative education.  This program has been a great success for CCES and something that the teachers look forward to each year.  It has made a powerful impact in the healthy choices our students make.