The Poplar Bluff Master Gardeners provide a program to educate second grade students on planting and caring for vegetable gardens. Their goals are to increase home vegetable gardening and consumption of vegetables. Students learn through demonstrations, hands-on activities, and are given seeds to plant at home. Evaluation found more students gardening at home and eating vegetables daily. The program has expanded to more schools and students over the years.

1. Encouraging Youth to
Plant Vegetables at Home
Denkler, S.1 and Poplar Bluff Master Gardeners 2
1 Sarah Denkler, Regional Horticulture Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, Poplar Bluff, Missouri 63901, Butler County, denklers@missouri.edu
2 Poplar Bluff Master Gardeners, University of Missouri include Jane Arnold, Bruce Beck, Sharon Beck, Sam Christy, Alison Clodfelter, Connie Cox, Laura Dowd, Paulette Garrett, Kittye Hall, John Hansmann, Jane Hansmann and Patti Henthorne
of Poplar Bluff, Missouri 63901 in Butler County; Susan Miller of Van Buren, Missouri, 63965 Kathy Pucci of Ellsinore, Missouri, 63937 and Rebecca Tindall of Grandin, Missouri, 63943 in Carter County; Barbara Gray and Lois Courtois of,
Wapappello, Missouri 63966 in Wayne County and Gene Rowland of Dexter, Missouri 63841 in Stoddard County, butlerco@missouri.edu
Abstract
When asked where tomatoes come from many youth will tell you the store. Even in rural, agricultural based areas many children are unaware
of the origins of their food. A study completed in 2009 by the Centers for Disease Control indicated that only ten to fourteen percent of youth in
grades nine to twelve consumed vegetables three or more times per day*. The Poplar Bluff Master Gardeners educate youth in elementary
grade levels with the goal of increasing the interest and amount of vegetable gardening done at home. By getting youth involved with
gardening they hope to increase the amount of vegetables consumed by children and families. As a result of the work done by the Master
Gardeners students have shown an increased interest in gardening and enthusiasm over the harvest they produce. Evaluation of the program
was done by surveying students who are currently receiving education and through discussion with students who had attended in the past and
master gardeners who present the program. The number of students being educated has increased each year since the start of the program.
Objectives
 Educate second grade youth on how to properly plant
seeds in soil and care for them so they will grow.
 Provide vegetable seed to participating youth for
planting at home.
 Provide the opportunity for participants and their family
to produce their own local source of fresh vegetables.
 Increase the number of gardens planted in Butler,
Carter and Ripley County.
The pictures show plants grown by students who participated in the program.
Program Activities Impacts and Conclusion
The Poplar Bluff Master Gardeners plan, prepare  100% of schools have requested the master gardeners return to teach the program
and provide an educational program each year for again.
second grade students in Butler County. The  17% of Master Gardeners have received positive feedback from students or family
volunteers provide multiple learning opportunities after program completion.
by:  75% of students grow a vegetable garden at home in a bed or container.
(i) Video or Demonstration on how to prepare the  57% of students eat vegetables each day with meals.
soil, plant the seed, plant a transplant, water and  60% of students are gardening with help from a relative.
care for plants in a garden;  44% of students are helped by an older sibling who attended the program.
(ii) Hands-On Activity with each child so they will  In 2011 program activity increased from 10 schools in two counties to 11 schools in
have planted a seed into soil to see it grow in three counties.
class;  740 students were educated in 2012 and received seeds for planting at home. This
(iii) Seed Source for each child, providing them with is up from 343 students in 2005.
the seeds of 5 vegetable varieties and 2 flower
varieties (selected based on their ease of The Poplar Bluff Master Gardeners continue to impact the second grade students and
germination) to plant at home and families in Butler, Carter and Ripley counties by providing knowledge and opportunity
(iv) Instructional Booklet showing how to prepare the to grow a family garden. Students report they are eating vegetables daily, growing
soil and plant the seeds. vegetables and are excited about what they grow.
References
*State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables. (2009). Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved May 15,
2012 from http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/health_professionals/statereport.html.