DATE: 5/21/07

CONTACT: Liz Smitherman, (864) 232-4431 ext 125; esmithe@clemson.edu

WRITER: Diane Palmer, (864) 656-4741; spalmer@clemson.edu

New 4-H project to improve health, wellbeing of children

GREENVILLE – The Clemson Extension Service and the Greenville Organic Foods Organization (GOFO) built four gardens at local elementary schools as part of the 4-H Grow Healthy Kids project during a recent Hands on Greenville Day.

The schools are Bethel Elementary, Brook Glenn Elementary, Taylors Elementary and Sue Cleveland Elementary.

The 4-H Grow Healthy Kids project is an initiative to improve and protect the health and wellbeing of children in Greenville County .

Children will plant, maintain, and harvest produce in their school organic garden, and learn to prepare the foods they have grown. In addition, students will engage in hands-on environmental science activities that teach community leadership, life skills, and healthy nutrition. The Clemson Extension 4–H and GOFO Health and Education Inc, are working together to implement this school program.

“Students will learn about sustainable agriculture, healthy eating habits and the environment,” said Liz Smitherman, Clemson Extension 4-H agent. “Local businesses have contributed to the project and several Greenville Master Gardeners are volunteering as advisers to the 4-H Grow Healthy Kids clubs.”

The program’s main focus is organic gardening. These vegetables are grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and genetically modified seeds.

Goals of the 4-H Grow Healthy Kids Club are:

• To educate children on the benefits of eating nutritious, organic whole foods.
• To teach students that food production and natural resources are interdependent.
• To raise their awareness of sustainable practices and environmental stewardship.
• To enhance their skills in problem solving, critical thinking, decision making and creativity through construction and maintenance of an organic garden.

For more information, contact Liz Smitherman at (864) 232-4431, ext. 125 or esmithe@clemson.edu

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