12.12.23 Field Trips are booking fast • Almost 1/2 way to our fundraising goal!
| Greenhouse Field Trips Booking Fast Soon after the holiday season greenhouse field trips will begin. These urban agriculture experiences show students the science of greenhouse food production vs. outdoor growing. There will be study of different methods of growing indoors such as hydroponics, aquaponics, potted planting and vertical growing. There are a variety of greens and veggies growing in the greenhouse in preparation for the taste test portion of these visits. The lettuce in the hydroponic system is really taking off! We look forward to welcoming students back to the greenhouse. If you are interested in learning more or booking your visit follow this link to start the registration process. |
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| Support is needed to continue to connect youth to healthy food and nature All of the schools we work with see the power garden lessons have to improve the health and wellbeing of students. However, as important as it is, most school budgets don’t cover the cost of extra programing like this. Most of the schools we work with look to their parent groups to support the cost of garden education. GROW fundraises the rest of the cost to ensure students with the greatest need don’t go without. Many students come to school hungry or fueled by foods that do not support their nutritional needs. GROW is on a mission to connect youth to healthy food and nature through hands-on garden-based learning to nourish growing minds and bodies. We know that the best way to encourage a child to make a healthy food choice is to involve them in the process from seed to table. That is why we host garden lessons at 9 area public schools, farm experiences, greenhouse field trips, Kids Cooking Challenges and Open Garden programs. In 2023 our programming has engaged over 3,000 youth in the Coulee Region in discovering where their food comes from, how to access healthy foods and how make healthy food choices. We need to raise a total of $15,000 by the end of the year to maintain programming. Help us reach our year end goal to continue making a positive impact. We need the support of the community to make these opportunities possible. Please consider donating to make a difference in the health of the youth we serve today and for a lifetime. You are just one click away from supporting garden-based learning. |
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| “Students are much more willing to try healthy food…” Jane Geotzinger, 2nd grade teacher at La Crescent-Hokah Elementary shares some of the reasons she loves having her students engage in hands-on garden lessons. “Two outcomes I love about the garden lessons: Students are much more willing to try healthy food choices they may have avoided in the past because of their involvement in the growth of the ingredients. Students’ appreciation for the work involved in providing a food source has grown. I’ve heard students commenting about the work of a farmer having ‘a whole, big field of plants to take care of…’.” |
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| A sense of accomplishment and ownershipLindsey Rushford, GROW board member is also a Perennial Partner, meaning she makes a monthly donation to support GROW’s mission. “I choose to support GROW both financially & with my time because I know youth in my community are being exposed to the power of growing food! This is a skill that is fun & therapeutic, and can provide a sense of accomplishment & ownership. Many of us, as adults, know these benefits firsthand and GROW is ensuring the youth in our area are being exposed to the skills & magic of growing food in a hands-on and encouraging environment.” |
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