Collaborators: Pre-school and kindergarten students, teachers, teaching assistants, school principal, extension  ANR agent Glen Roberts, ANR assistant, Terry Bertram, FCS assistant, Cassie Munsey, VoAg students and Master Gardener volunteers.

The Principal at Walker Early Learning Center was interested in applying for a grant from Lowe`s to obtain supplies to construct 16 raised beds (one per classroom) for pre-school and kindergarten.  She asked the Wayne County Extension office for advice.  ANR agent Glen Roberts has extensive experience and helped with design and construction of 16 raised beds three feet wide and 12 feet long.  He seeded and grew broccoli and cauliflower plants so that each student could have their own plant to transplant into the raised bed.  Students were guided in the correct procedure to transplant their plant by the extension staff.  The ANR agent took care of watering, fertilizing and spraying the plants with crop protectants when needed.  The students under their teacher`s supervision observed the progress of the plants and removed a few weeds that emerged.  The ANR agent and ANR assistant harvested the broccoli and cauliflower in late fall.  Along with the FCS assistant they went into the classrooms to teach the students how to make broccoli and cauliflower pizza using an English muffin, ranch dressing, shredded cheese, and florets of broccoli and cauliflower.  Most of the students at least tasted their creation and many of them were surprised that it tasted good.  We still have a few broccoli "haters" but we also gained several fresh broccoli and cauliflower converts. The ANR agent wrote the "Broccoli Song" and the "Cauliflower Song" and taught them to the students and teachers. It was a fun way for the students to learn about the nutritional value of broccoli and cauliflower.  They were also able to grow dwarf sugar snap peas in the spring and were able to eat them as well.  The ANR agent wrote the "Picking and Planting Peas Song".  He taught that to the students to make the experience more fun and to help them remember that peas are good for you and taste good too.