The worldwide health pandemic has forced individual life choices to change and thus increasing the demand for locally grown fresh produce, meat and eggs.  Empty shelves at the supermarket has shifted the consumers focus toward the farm stand and self-sustaining agriculture.  Local farmers markets have become the consumer’s choice to provide safe, fresh and nutritious food for communities across the state, and Grant County is experiencing this trend as well.

A Green Thumb program was planned as an effort to further raise awareness of local food systems and increase youth participation in the local farmers market.  Representatives from Grant County Cooperative Extension Service, Grant County Chamber of Commerce, Grant County High School Culinary Arts, Williamstown High School and Grant County High School FFA Programs, Williamstown Main Street Merchants Association and Grant County Farmer’s Market supporters collaborated to host a meal to showcase local farm products.  

Agents and leaders began working in addition to 4 kids we started  900 Zinnias in the greenhouse and had a "Make someone smile day" and gave them to local residents to help brighten peopled lives during the pandemic.  About 325 families received plants.  We also started a variety of vegetable plants and gave away about  200 tomato, cucumber, zucchini, cabbage, pepper and cantaloupe plants.

Work then shifted from the greenhouse to the outdoor classroom.  Utilizing our environmental area the SNAP assistant, the Ag Agent and several volunteer leaders began working with 2 families and established a victory garden.  To date we have harvested about 7 bushels of green beans, 9 bushels of tomatoes, 2 bushels of black eyed peas, cantaloupe, cabbage, peppers, watermelon, cushaw, pumpkin, and proceeds from the garden have been donated to local free kitchen as well as individuals seeking fresh fruits identified by our SNAP assistant.

15 families have experienced the addition of fresh food in the menu.  2 families that have helped with the project are also learning how to store food by canning and freezing vegetables and preparation of fresh salsa with assistance from our FCS agent.