P.L.A.N.T.S. Outreach Program
Preparing Leaders in Agriculture and Nutrition Through Service
Overview
The PLANTS project has 3 phases with the following overarching goals:
The short-term goal is to involve more students in the PLANTS program and raise more produce for the food pantry. In the 2016 growing season 108 pounds of produce were donated and 10 students were involved. Our short-term goal within the next year is to triple both aspects - the pounds of produce grown and donated, as well as the number of students involved in the process. This will fulfill Phase 2 of our PLANTS program plans, as we venture into Phase 3 - Outreach.
This outreach program has been established with a Grow Rural Education grant through Monsanto.
The PLANTS project has 3 phases with the following overarching goals:
- Phase 1-RAISED BED GARDEN-Construct a raised bed garden to grow produce to donate to the local food pantry. This phase was established in Summer of 2015, and students raised and donated 108 pounds of produce to the local food pantries in the 2015 growing season.
- Phase 2-GREENHOUSE-Construct a greenhouse to extend the growing season and impact of the program. Construction of the greenhouse was completed in February 2017. Agriculture Education students have begun to raise produce for donations year-round to the local food pantries. Franklin County Ag Ed and FFA’s goal is to at least triple the amount of produce donated, as the local food pantries are always in need of fresh produce to share with the needy of the community. With this grant money a quality, heated greenhouse will be extend the growing season to year-round; and the needed supplies for our greenhouse facility such as benches, a watering system, and initial seeds, pots, and potting soil have been purchased.
- Phase 3-OUTREACH-Outreach to Youth through regular sessions in the greenhouse. Now that the greenhouse is constructed, Ag Ed and FFA students offer regular outreach sessions to elementary and middle school students to teach them about gardening, nutrition, and service learning. Although our FFA chapter has been doing outreach through our Annual AGstravaganza event already, the greenhouse facility offers more space and resources for a regular outreach program.
The short-term goal is to involve more students in the PLANTS program and raise more produce for the food pantry. In the 2016 growing season 108 pounds of produce were donated and 10 students were involved. Our short-term goal within the next year is to triple both aspects - the pounds of produce grown and donated, as well as the number of students involved in the process. This will fulfill Phase 2 of our PLANTS program plans, as we venture into Phase 3 - Outreach.
This outreach program has been established with a Grow Rural Education grant through Monsanto.