In Campbell County, an average from all the school districts showed that only 48% of students were kindergarten ready, which was a drop from pre-pandemic years (Kentucky Youth Advocates, 2024). Kindergarten readiness means the child is academically, socially, and emotionally ready to start school. Another important focus for children to be ready for school is having healthy relationships and strong families.  According to the University of Kentucky’s publication, “Family Vitality: Characteristics of Strong Families,” relationships that include good communication skills, fun times, time together, involvement with friends and community, commitment, and a healthy lifestyle are some essential characteristics of strong families (Rupured and Quick, 1997).   

Research from University of Colorado (October, 2011) has shown that  youth gardening provides benefits such as: educational and developmental, physical and mental health, improves nutrition and eating habits, environmental awareness and behavior, and social-emotional growth, which have been identified as limitations for youth to start school. Campbell County Horticulture department provides resources, tools, and instruction about plants and our environment. Programs and hands on activities include floral design, herb and vegetable gardening, houseplants,  and insects and pollinators. Youth are exposed to our educational gardens to explore nature and become curious about the relationship between nature and what we eat and how that impacts our health and community. Youth and parents work together on each project to accomplish the finished goal. As a result:

• Youth have increased their awareness and appreciation of insect
• Youth have increased their knowledge about fruits, vegetables and herbs
• Many of the youth and parents, have shared that because of the horticulture programs at Flowerbuds, they have started or expanded their garden at home. Which also encouraged their families to eat more fruits and vegetables. 
• “We have been harvesting the lettuce at home and making salad”, “The Daliahs flowers are blooming and look beautiful in our landscape”. 
• Jonah, pictured below, constructed this structure with his dad using recycled and repurposed items to protect the plants from deer. Jonah’s dad said, “Jonah is growing tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and jalpenos all by himself and dad is so proud of him. Jonah has always been more of a shy kid, but loves talking to neighbors and family about his garden. he likes to share vegetables with others too”.
  
  
   

The Campbell County family and consumer sciences agent partnered with the horticulture team to teach the monthly Flowerbuds series, which provided educational family time for 17 preschoolers and their caregivers.  The caregivers of the children included fathers, mothers, and grandparents. The environmental education assistant also taught a special nature lesson. Flowerbuds met monthly for an educational story time and hands-on activities such as tasting a variety of fruits and vegetables, engaging science lessons, making art projects, and growing plants. The Kentucky Early Childhood Standards, the University of Kentucky’s Leap curriculum, Plate it Up recipes, Nutrition Education Program recipes, Laugh and Learn, and Stories, Songs, and Stretches lessons were utilized.