Our Town: One to Grow On

Gardens are for dreamers. After all, their beginnings never look like much—tiny seeds hidden under soil, lots of waiting. But with the right care and the right amount of patience, a small seed can result in a colorful explosion of fresh produce. This is what Greenville Organic Foods Organization, a nonprofit to educate about the benefits of environmental stewardship and organic agriculture, is dreaming for the youth of Greenville County.

Teaming up with 4-H, Clemson, and local businesses, GOFO is spearheading an initiative designed to improve children’s eating habits, educate them about environmentally sustainable choices, and encourage creative- and critical-thinking skills. To date, the project, named Grow Healthy Kids, is being implemented in eleven public schools.

Participating schools receive a fourteen-week curriculum that can be used after school or as a science-class supplement, a trained project coordinator, and all the necessary garden supplies. After learning about their environment, students then help design, plant, and maintain their organic garden.

GOFO intends to improve the poor nutritional status of children in Greenville County while promoting environmentally sustainable choices—one 200-square-foot garden at a time. Their hands-on approach is unique in our community and, although fairly young, has already received favorable reception at schools—which says something for getting a little dirt under your fingernails.