By Carolyn Foy Evans
Contributing Writer
CARRBORO —Jana Sartor’s 3-year-old son, Ezra, loves watching his garden grow. His family is one of many working together in the James Street Community Garden, the latest of three sites developed under the Growing Healthy Kids Project.
A collaborative effort by the Orange County Partnership for Young Children (OCPYC), the Orange County agriculture extension office and the Town of Carrboro, the initiative is funded by a grant from the N.C. Health and Wellness Trust Fund.
The project focuses on reducing childhood obesity in Orange County. In 2006, more than 35 percent of the county’s children aged 2 to 4 were overweight or obese, according to the North Carolina Department of Health.
The space, on the street’s west side, was donated by Duke Energy. The company also organized a group of its retirees to help build a shed for the garden. This allowed OCPYC to create an easily accessible garden in a prime location at an affordable price.
Teaching good habits
Completely organic, the community garden provides the basis for educating families on all aspects of developing a healthy diet, from growing the food to preparing meals within a tight budget.
“Produce, especially when it is organically grown, is simply too expensive for many families,†says Margaret Samuels, executive director of the OCPYC. “Here they have the resources of the county extension experts to help them grow their own organic produce.â€
Samuels sees tremendous value in teaching healthy eating habits to children through gardening.
“Children are likely to eat something that they have grown,†she says. “Plus, a key part of healthy living is being outdoors and active, which is definitely part of tending a garden.â€
Even the smallest hands get involved in digging, watering and planting the garden. “We planted my pepper…. It’s really hot,†Ezra says, giggling with enthusiasm. “Then we picked it, and we’re going to eat it!â€
Growing together
Participants in the James Street garden include 20 families selected by the OCPYC and members of the Carrboro United Methodist Church and the Episcopal Church of the Advocate. Each family is allotted an 8-by-10-foot plot that they tend during garden workdays every weekend. The plots may sound small, but with careful planting the space can produce more than the family needs.
And the extras go to good use. Later this summer, participating families will share in a potluck dinner prepared with overruns from their gardens.
“The families love working together,†Samuels says.
Harvesting more
According to Samuels, the Project’s earlier gardens — at Martin Luther King Park and Carrboro Elementary School — are already showing positive results.
“Families participating in those gardens report increased consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as healthier overall lifestyles,†she says.
Participation in the program is restricted to families who are residents of Carrboro and have at least one child under 6. Low-income families are given priority.
Though all the family spaces have been allotted, Maria Hitt, coordinator of the Growing Healthy Kids Program, offers this advice for growing your own organic garden, even if all you have are a few containers on the back deck:
Pick the right spot: A healthy garden needs five to six hours of sun daily.
Start small: Use smaller-scale plants; experts at the local garden center, extension office and farmers’ markets can help you make the right choices.
Don’t overcrowd plants: Overcrowding leads to stressed plants, making them targets for pests. Most plants come with suggested spacing, or you can consult an expert.
Keep it green: Stay away from herbicides, pesticides and chemical fertilizers. When in doubt, ask a local authority or check organic gardening websites for advice.
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