According to The Columbia Online Dictionary, plants are essential to the balance of nature and in people's lives. Green plants, i.e., those possessing chlorophyll, manufacture their own food and give off oxygen during photosynthesis. Plants are the ultimate source of food and metabolic energy for nearly all animals, which cannot manufacture their own food. Besides foods (e.g., grains, fruits, and vegetables), plant products vital to humans include wood and wood products, fibers, drugs, oils, latex, pigments, and resins. Coal and petroleum are fossil substances of plant origin. Thus plants provide people not only sustenance but shelter, clothing, medicines, fuels, and the raw materials from which innumerable other products are made.

There is very little agriculture (plant or animal) in Martin County.  There are not a lot of farmers left to pass down knowledge to our young people.  Martin County uses this as an opportunity to teach kids the importance of plants and how to take care of them.  Over the fall and beginning of winter the 4-H Teen Council with assistance from our Agriculture and Natural Resource Assistant planted and tended to over 100 poinsettias in our green house.  Not only did they learn valuable lessons, they were also able to sell the plans and raise $1,300 for 4-H Camp.