Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
Youth in an urban area need organized activities for the summer months. Gardening provides an opportunity to grow vegetables and fruits and provides an opportunity for physical activity. Research has shown that youth who grow their own fruits and vegetables and learn how to prepare them are more likely to choose to eat more and adopt diets that follow the dietary guidelines.

Response:
For the seventh year, ISU Extension in Black Hawk County has organized a youth vegetable garden at the Jesse Cosby Neighborhood Center. Fifty youth from three agencies visited the garden for two hours each week during the eight week program. Quakerdale, the Boys and Girls Club and YWCA each brought vans of youth to the garden each week. The youth spent one hour in the garden and one hour in the kitchen learning about nutrition and preparing recipes. The youth from Quakerdale planned, planted, maintained and harvested a six by six foot plot. Youth from the Boys and Girls club and the YWCA each planted a large shared plot. The garden also included community rows of green beans, lettuce, radish, melon and a salsa garden. The youth learned about food preparation and how to prepare the food they were growing. The youth made salsa, homemade tortilla chips, cucumber dip, fruit pizza, anytime burritos, yougurt parfaits, lettuce salads and chicken enchiladas. To celebrate a successful growing season, a garden party was held featuring barbequed chicken, sweetcorn, fresh green beans, and a lettuce salad. Over 50 people enjoyed garden tours and a fun evening exploring all the produce growing in the garden in addition to the shared meal. The garden has watermelon, canteloupe, lettuce, radish, green beans, peas, collard greens, okra, cilantro, peppers, cabbage, zuchinni, cucumbers and onions growing.

Impact:
The youth completed evaluations at the end of the formal program. Comments included: We made the garden cleaner by weeding it. The way I see it, you've got to weed your life in order to live a healthy life. Weeds and plants can look alike. "This summer I learned that gardening is actually a lot of work in order for my plants to stay healthy. Yes, I will continue gardening in the future because it is fun. It may be hard work, but in the end you get a great reward. At the Jesse Cosby garden I had fun helping and people showed me respect. I learned about how to care for a garden. I enjoyed gardening, planting vegetables and fruit and being able to watch them grow. We planted lots of foods that are healthy for you. In the future I am going to have a huge garden at my house. I learned to pick flowers off the watermelon plant to help the vines grow bigger watermelon. This summer I learned that gardening is harder than it looks, yet fun. I learned that gardening is not just for women, it is for men too. Now I eat more kinds of vegetables because I know some have different vitamins and nutrients. This summer I learned that just by switching your whites for wheats and adding some veggies you can make a much healthier meal or snack. I learned that cooking is fun! I learned I should eat healthy food along with getting plenty of exercise. I learned there is Vitamin C in tomatoes and peppers and other vegetables.

Additional partners:
Jesse Cosby Neighborhood Center, Gary Cook
YWCA, Wize Girlz
Quakerdale, Emily Griffin
Boys and Girls Club

Contact:
Jill Weber
Black Hawk County Extension
3420 University Avenue, Suite B
Waterloo, Iowa 50701
319-234-6811
jrweber@iastate.edu