The Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education is gearing up for spring! In addition to the health education programs delivered at the Poe Center and our outreach programming, we are in the beginning stages of creating the Center’s first community garden. With the help of student interns, Catherine and Caitlin, the Poe Center is working with the Wake County Cooperative Extension Center and 4-H to prepare their grounds for this exciting new addition to the Poe Center. An area of the one-of-a-kind WakeMed PlayWell Park (see picture) will be transformed into a vegetable and herb garden allowing students to experience the rewards of fresh produce. As students return each year for programming they will be able to see how the garden grows, produces the various vegetables and herbs and acquire an appreciation for fresh produce. Along with the hands-on experience students will gain through the garden project, the Poe Center is hoping to design a curriculum that promotes the benefits of locally grown food and fresh produce. The goal of the garden project is to:
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encourage children to lead a healthy lifestyle through healthy eating and physical activity.
- increase the daily amount of fruits and vegetables consumed by North Carolina youth.
- increase awareness, understanding, and appreciation of agriculture and healthful eating; reinforce that food does not come from a store!
- encourage home gardening through hands-on experience and demonstrating a variety of garden types.
- teach students to be stewards of the community by recycling, composting extra produce, and appreciating agriculture and local farmers.
The Poe Center is excited to have the opportunity to impact more North Carolina youth and their families. We are eager to have the local community be part of this garden project from funding, preparing, planting and care and maintenance. If you wish to be part of this local garden project call 919-231-4006 or email [email protected]. The Poe Center invites the community to visit the garden this coming fall as they celebrate their 20th Anniversary!
