KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — For 26 years, the University of Missouri Extension has been nurturing young green thumbs through its Garden N’ Grow youth program.
Designed for children ages 8 to 13, the program offers a week-long immersion into the world of gardening, with lessons on soil preparation, planting, mulching, watering, harvesting, and preservation.
This year, the young gardeners are harvesting produce such as tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers from the All-America Selection Garden.
The program also introduces culinary skills, with the goal of incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into their diets, by helping children prepare dishes like fresh salsa, garden pizza, zucchini brownies, fruit smoothies, fruit pizzas, and tacos.
Activities extend beyond cooking, with participants engaging in creative projects like making garden flower arrangements and stepping stones.
When asked about their favorite part of the program, Kensi said, “Practically just how to garden and how to make delicious foods out of fresh produce.” Brooks shared his enthusiasm for “how to make mini pizzas with biscuits,” while Henzekiah expressed a unique interest, saying, “I’d probably say flower arrangement, I’m weird like that I really like arranging flowers.”
The Garden N’ Grow program aims to instill a lifelong appreciation for gardening and healthy eating in its young participants.
