VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – It’s planting season! Students in Barnes County will have the opportunity to start their own garden at home this spring. Grab n’ Grow seed planting kits were assembled by ON THE MOVE partners and distributed to 550 students and children from Valley City Public Schools, Litchville Elementary School, Barnes County North, Just Kidding Daycare, Valley City Children’s Center and TL Childcare Center.
Research has shown that children who are involved in hands-on gardening projects are more likely to eat more fruits and vegetables.
“Half the fun is getting to eat what you grow!” states Andrea Winter, licensed registered dietitian and ON THE MOVE coordinator at City County Health District. “Gardening is a great way for children to learn new skills and to learn about nutrition and where their food comes from.”
The seeds and dirt for the kits were purchased from local greenhouses in Valley City. Once the kits were assembled, they were given out to the students in Valley City at each of the school lunch distribution sites and delivered to the three daycare centers.
Planting kits were also given out to students who attend Barnes County North School and Litchville Elementary School.
“By providing opportunities for local students such as gardening kits we hope to encourage students to eat more fruits and vegetables each day which promotes healthy eating habits as they grow up”, states Sharon Buhr, licensed registered dietitian and chair of the ON THE MOVE Partnership.
The project was funded by a federal grant awarded to City County Health District. One aspect of the grant focuses on providing opportunities for students to increase healthy eating by focusing on growing, preparing and eating more fruits and vegetables.
The feature photo is students receiving Grab n’ Grow seed planting kits from members of ON THE MOVE including a masked Andrea Winter. These students in Valley City picked up their kits on their bikes at the school meal distribution site at Jefferson Elementary School in Valley City.