Locally grown fruits and vegetables are not only healthier, they are also much fresher than produce bought from a grocery store. Even thou the idea of local foods is easy to understand, limited resources and limiting budgets tend to hinder the practice of consuming them. The concept of “Farm to Table” is based on the idea of knowing exactly where the food you eat comes from or growing food for yourself. The Agriculture Extension Agent and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Educator Assistant of the Logan County Cooperative Extension Service brought the Farm to Table idea to the mentally challenged adults of Lifeskills Industries.

Lifeskills Industries is a center for mentally handicapped adults that offers opportunities for continued education and skills development as well as employment. To encourage healthier eating through locally grown produce and motor skills development, the Logan County Agriculture Extension Agent and SNAP-Ed Assistant partnered with Lifeskills Industries to complete an on-sight, community raised bed garden for individuals participating in the programs at Lifeskills Industries. 

Keeping in mind the physical limitations of the individuals, the garden was purposely placed and constructed from agriculture stock tanks to allow for easy and convenience while not limiting growth. By taking extra time and focus to accommodating the needs of the individuals, they were better equipped and confident in their abilities to plant and maintain the garden with very little assistance. 16 out of the 18 individuals participating reported that it gave them an opportunity to learn how to plant a garden as well as the confidence to try something new.

The garden project was designed with 6 different fruits and vegetables to supply the individuals with the produce they enjoyed and the produce needed for their nutrition education classes. The SNAP-Ed Assistant teaches hands-on cooking classes with the individuals at Lifeskills using “Healthy Choices for Every Body” curriculum from University of Kentucky Nutrition Education Program. One of the most influential nutritional lessons, “Knowing the Limits,” highlighted the importance of fresh local grown produce by not having the sodium, fat, added sugars or added preservatives like that of most canned goods. This was a great lesson for the participants due to majority of them have pre-existing conditions of high blood pressure and diabetes. During the “Planning Meals and Food Budgeting” lessons, individuals gathered the concept of saving money by growing their own produce in the garden. Prior to each of the nutritional lessons and demonstrations, the garden participants would check the garden to see if there was an ingredient they could use for food demonstration for the lesson that day. 

Responsibility and commitment were also goals of the garden project. 10 of the 18 that started the garden project, continue to maintain the garden and 11 are eating the vegetables from the garden at least 2 days a week. The garden also encouraged 14 of the 18 to each vegetables every day. Even when seen at the local grocery store, members were excited to show off the healthy choices they had in their carts and were eager to take them home to their families. 

By growing their own vegetables, the individuals of Lifeskills Industries were able to see the full circle idea from planting the vegetables to maintaining the garden to eating the produce that was produced. The garden provided more than fruits and vegetables, it provided the mentally handicapped adults of Lifeskills Industries greater character skills of independence and self-confidence as well as encouragement to grow as individuals.