Collaboration for a Successful SNAP-Ed Gardening Program Debora (Debbi) Custer with MG Linda Cheadle INTRODUCTION During the school year, SNAP-Ed preschool lessons were taught at a local Head Start site, which resulted in a rewarding working relationship with the director and staff. This relationship was responsible for bringing about a dialog on the need for a unique summer program for the year-round preschool class and a school age summer youth program. When it was discovered that the USDA offered a free Grow It, Try It, Like It pre-school gardening curriculum, we were encouraged and excited about the possibilities. Once approval was given by the SNAP-Ed leadership, we began a collaboration that included the Head Start site director and staff, our Greene County Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator and Master Gardener, Linda Cheadle. In this area plantings include beans, cucumbers, squash and gourds. Preschool children discovering and observing insects, with the help of magnifying glasses.. Children Discovering and Tending the Garden Planting Bed Along Fence Area Harvest of Potatoes Grown in a Clear Bin Harvest of Beans and a Cucumber AIM The program’s objective was to bring hands on gardening experiences to low-income groups of children to encourage trying new fruits and vegetables, using multi-sensory experiences (sight, touch, smell and taste) and fun learning activities. Using approved curriculums, such as Grow It, Try It, Like It, collaborating with a county Master Gardener and Head Start staff and by using donations from county businesses, a garden was planted, produce tasted, and hands on learning activities were experienced by 32 preschool and school age children. GOAL To increase the likelihood that youth will taste and eat a larger variety of health- promoting foods, as well as learning the importance of participating in regular physical activity, eating healthy meals and snacks and drinking water instead of sugar filled drinks. It is hoped that the impact of this program will encourage healthier food choices in the future of these children, as well as that of their families’. METHODS -Collaborating with an interested program site, Greene County Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator and Master Gardener. -Obtaining permission to use USDA gardening curriculum from the SNAP-Ed leadership. -Establishing a great working relationship and regular communication between the SNAP-Ed Program Assistant and Master Gardener, to plan weekly lessons, activities and supply lists. -Location of available, safe and usable gardening spaces. -Finding local businesses willing to donate materials and supplies to help stretch available resources. -Using multi-sensory methods (sight, touch, smell and taste) with a wide variety of produce. This included showing the uncut outside, as well as cut open, to reveal the seeds and pulp inside. -Use of hands on learning activities, books, and acted out simulations, like the life cycle of a peach tree, to reinforce lessons from the curriculum. RESULTS -Children showed increased interest and excitement in experiencing new produce. -The site director and staff noticed that the children enjoyed talking about MyPlate and the different food groups that they were eating, during breakfast and lunch at their site. -Children became more interested and curious about produce and their seeds, often asking if they could plant them. -The children were so interested in the beans lesson, that they asked to take a variety of dried beans home to show their family. -Many children discovered new fruits and vegetables that they liked. -Children were able to retain the information learned enough to answer questions correctly and to ask great questions of their own. CONCLUSIONS Due to the positive response and outcome of the program, the site director and staff have asked us to provide this program to their preschool and school age youth again next summer. Everyone is looking forward to building onto the success of this first-year project to make an even larger impact in the future. QUOTES From children: I liked it when we tried the fruits and vegetables. We loved the art and food. It was a lot of fun. From teachers: The gardening project and SNAP-Ed curriculum has been wonderful. The children really enjoy Ms. Debbi with taste testing as well as Ms. Linda with being outside and tending to the garden! The garden has been a huge success! We have tomatoes, beans and broccoli and it looks awesome! BIBLIOGRAPHY 1USDA Team Nutrition’s Curriculum Grow It, Try it, Like It 2Color Me Healthy Curriculum (music CD and learning cards) 3Healthy Kids Challenge Curriculum Balance My Day 4Vegetable Friends by Tony Lawlor and Bruce Kociemba 5One Bean by Annie Rockwell 6Pancakes, Pancakes! By Eric Carle 7My Lunch Box Book by Kathleen N. Daly 8The BugaBees, Friends with Food Allergies by Amy Recob 9The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The U.S. Department of Agriculture funding for SNAP-Ed, Team Nutrition and Healthy Kids Challenge curriculum, Greene County OSU Extension Director and staff, Greene County Master Gardeners and contributions from the following local businesses: Friendly Knoll Nursery (Jamestown), Phillips Company (Beavercreek) and Handyman Ace Hardware (Xenia). CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information: go.osu.edu/cfaesdiversity COLLEGE OF FOOD, AGRICULTURAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN ECOLOGY FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION