Eastern KY and Appalachia in general has for far to long been known for its obesity rates and health risks due to bad eating habits and unbalanced diets. Highly processed fast food has become way to convenient and easily accessible in the fast passed world we live in today.

According to a Kentucky Health News article, Kentucky has the second highest adult obesity rate in the nation and Kentucky's children age 10-17 have the nations highest rate for that age group. 

To help combat these terrible statistics, The Elliott County Extension Office teamed up with Elliott County FFA to not only discuss healthy eating habits but also to talk about how raised bed vegetable gardens are a great way to make fruits and veggies more available in your home, even if a large area to raise a conventional garden isn't available. 

After discussing different raised bed techniques we worked together to build 2 raised beds that could hold up to 12, 5 gallon buckets in a staired-stepped formation of  three, four bucket rows so to take up as little room as possible.

Mrs. Makayla's Elliott Co. FFA students were able to, not only learn about the value of raised beds, but also were able to get a small intro into carpentry and wood working as well.

The group did and excellent job building the raised beds and when they were finished,  donated them to the Elliott County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for the residence their to use and enjoy. 

A lot of the residence there enjoy watering and caring for the raised bed and look forward to harvesting the vegetables grown in them soon. This also give the residence whom are able a sense of purpose and normalcy day to day while they are at the center.   

Around 25 youth had involvement in this project with 8 FFA members actually going to the rehabilitation center to help set up the raised beds and get it started for the residence at the center.