Kansas City gardening project -- Gardens for Growing Healthy Kids

The Growing Healthy Kids project is a program funded by the Kansas Health Foundation to work with child care providers in Johnson County and Wyandotte County to promote health and wellness in their programs.

The focus of the project is on helping child care providers incorporate gardening into their programs, allowing children and families to be involved in growing healthy plants and eating fresh produce.

The gardening piece is important because it helps create connections between families, children, teachers, directors, and the community. It also provides an opportunity for children to learn about plants, gardening, and healthy eating.

The role of the project has been to work with child care centers in Kansas City, Wyandotte County, and Johnson County to expand or start gardening projects. This includes building raised beds, filling them with soil, planting seeds, and teaching kids how to grow healthy plants.

The children have shown excitement and pride in their gardens. They enjoy showing off their plants, picking produce (even if it's not ready), and experiencing the process of planting and growing. They also take pride in their accomplishments and are eager to share their discoveries with others.