In a nationwide telephone survey of 2,004 respondents, people who reported picking flowers, fruits or vegetables, planting trees, taking care of plants, or living next to a garden in childhood were more likely to show an interest in gardening as they aged and to form lasting positive relationships with gardens and trees (Lohr & Pearson-Mims, 2005)

School Gardens help to extend the classroom beyond traditional settings by expanding it outside. Gardening can provide students with hands-on learning opportunities while increasing environmental awareness and vital experience in problem-solving.  In a 2017 report published by FoodCorps, schools “that have high-quality opportunities for hands-on nutrition learning result in students who eat up to three times more fruits and vegetables at school lunch regardless of whether or not that food was grown in the garden.” (The Importance of School Gardens, Margaux Spiegel, July 26, 2019, web.magnushealth.com)

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Assistant visited 200 students in eight kindergarten classes at Taylor County Primary Center for monthly classes, using the Literacy, Eating and Activity for Preschool/Primary (LEAP) program. Students heard books on being healthy and sampled new foods. A favorite of the students was tasting greens like spinach and kale. The kindergarten classes had begun a small raised bed project in the 2018-19 school year which complemented their Learning, Eating, and Activity for Primary (LEAP) lessons. 

The Nutrition Assistant and the Horticulture Agent partnered with Taylor County Primary and their kindergarten classes to expand this largely unused courtyard space into a larger classroom garden space. Grant funds were applied for and received in cooperation with the Taylor County Soil Conservation Service. Taylor County Master Gardeners were involved, volunteering to assist in the development of the space.  One volunteer constructed a cold frame and installed it in February. Plans were being made to expand the garden when schools were closed for Covid-19.  The Nutrition Assistant continued to send support materials to the kindergarten teachers in the form of ChopChop Magazine's Kids Club weekly newsletter and Wally Cat materials for the teachers to utilize in their online class work for 200 kindergarteners through the end of the school year. 

The head teacher continued to be in contact with the Nutrition Assistant and Horticulture Agent and has continued to work in the space through the closure. Plans are to assist the school with this project through the summer so children will have a completed space when school resumes later in 2020. When classes resume, there is hope to see positive results from the youth being able to garden and eat the food that they grow.