According to The Columbia Online Dictionary, plants are essential to the balance of nature and in people's lives. Green plants, i.e., those possessing chlorophyll, manufacture their own food and give off oxygen during photosynthesis. Plants are the ultimate source of food and metabolic energy for nearly all animals, which cannot manufacture their own food. Besides foods (e.g., grains, fruits, and vegetables), plant products vital to humans include wood and wood products, fibers, drugs, oils, latex, pigments, and resins. Coal and petroleum are fossil substances of plant origin. Thus, plants provide people not only sustenance but shelter, clothing, medicines, fuels, and the raw materials from which innumerable other products are made.

There is very little agriculture (plant or animal) in Martin County.  There are not a lot of farmers left to pass down knowledge to our young people. We do not have an agriculture program in our high school.   Martin County 4-H tries to supplement as much education as possible in this area.

This year we decided to raise a pumpkin patch with the help of 4-Hers.  It was an opportunity to showcase what can be done with hard work.  We were able to raise over 100 pumpkins in our first try.  We sold sold some of the pumpkins and were able to raise $200 for 4-H Camp.  

The rest of the pumpkins were used for a culminating, educational event.  We ended up with over 40 participants.  The event features our smoothie bike, pumpkin recipes and samples, harvesting tips, a pumpkin carving and painting booth, sensory bins for the kids and more

This was a great start to a program we will continue in the years to come.  Our outcomes at this point are at the initial stage.  We hope to grow into the future.