The University of Missouri youth gardening curriculum, Garden 'n Grow, is used in Buchanan County to teach area youth and youth at the Buchanan County Academy about vegetable gardening. Master Gardeners and other adult volunteers partner with the youth gardeners as they learn skills like planting, weeding, and harvesting vegetables. The youth gardeners donate over 900 pounds of produce each year to the local food bank. The program aims to teach life skills while providing fresh food to the community.

1. YOUTH GARDENING IN BUCHANAN COUNTY
Fowler, * T.R. 1 , Baker, T.P. 2 , Werthmuller, L.R.3
1. Regional Horticulture Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, St. Joseph, Missouri 64507
2. Regional Horticulture Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, Gallatin, Missouri 64640
3. Master Gardener, University of Missouri Extension, St. Joseph, Missouri 64507
Abstract Why?
The University of Missouri youth gardening curriculum, Garden ‘n Grow, is used • Provide opportunities for youth to learn gardening/life
by the area horticulturalist and Master Gardeners to introduce area youth to skills.
vegetable gardening. The goals of the program are to provide youth the • Utilize adult volunteers to mentor the youth gardeners.
experience and success of growing their own food, have the satisfaction of • Give to the community by providing fresh produce to
sharing harvested food with others in need, and to have fun gardening. This the food bank.
gardening program was developed for youth ages 9 to 13. The adult volunteers
partner the youth gardeners into teams as they learn about seeds, transplants,
pests, soils, food value, and food needs in the community. Produce is donated
to the local food bank, Second Harvest. The youth gardeners also volunteered Program results:
at the local food kitchen. The adult volunteers expanded the program to reach
• In 2011 the youth gardening program was expanded to
children who are under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and are housed at
the Buchanan County Academy.
the Buchanan County Academy. The youth at the academy planted, maintained
and harvested their garden throughout the summer. They also donated produce • Area youth and County Academy youth garden
to the food bank and they prepared vegetables for meals at the academy. For successfully and have fun as they learn new skills.
many this was their first experience growing produce and eating produce fresh • Master Gardeners and other adult volunteers share
from the garden. Participant and adult feedback indicated that the youth learned their knowledge with the youth gardeners.
new life skills and were willing to try eating more vegetables and had pride in • Each year around 900 pounds of garden produce is
growing their own food. donated to the regional food bank.
Master Gardener volunteers and Garden n’ Grow youth visiting Planting tomato plants in the Academy youth and volunteers rest Checking for insects and diseases
youth gardeners making salsa Second Harvest Food Bank Garden n’ Grow plot after working in their plot while weeding
The Missouri Garden n’ Grow Program is a Buchanan County Academy is a
summer volunteer gardening program school for juveniles unable to
developed for 9 to 13 year-olds youths. In attend public schools. During
the program, youths learn not only the growing season, MU
vegetable gardening, but also “cultivate” Extension Master Gardener
other science, math, and language arts volunteers offer a garden
skills and have fun! program for academy youth.