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Impact Report

For plan Youth Development (Chaves County)
Date October 16, 2008, 8:19 pm
For Objective Short-term Show short-term objectives
Impact Report 4-H Garden Program The agent received legislative money through the State 4-H Office to be used for outreach to new youth audiences in Chaves County for a Community Gardening Program. Chaves County Master Gardener volunteers assisted the agent in planning and constructing six raised beds that were put in place on the playground of Pecos Elementary School during spring break in March. The beds were equipped with a drip irrigation system for watering. With guidance and instruction from the agent, second and third grade students planted seeds in the classrooms, then transplanted the growing plants into the outdoor raised beds in late April. Crops planted included snap green beans, zucchini squash, yellow squash, okra, and sunflowers. Due to an extended school year at Pecos School, students attended school throughout July, which provided an extended opportunity to teach about garden care and about the vegetables that the garden was beginning to produce. Students learned to harvest the vegetables and sunflowers, and were amazed to discover that the food they eat everyday is grown in the same fashion. Nutrition educators through the Chaves County CES’s ICAN Program also taught classes to the youth about the nutritional aspects of their gardening venture and how to properly prepare and eat those vegetables for a healthy lifestyle. Since school began this fall, one classroom has planted a fall crop of lettuce. Plans are to continue with the gardening program through cool weather, and plant again next spring. Students became aware of how their food is produced and became experienced in gardening techniques. Life skills gained included health lifestyle choices (healthy food choices, food preparation), marketable skills (food production), and teamwork. The youth also learned how agriculture is important to them and were made aware of the Chaves County 4-H program and how to join the youth organization.