Alabama schoolchildren learning to eat better through gardening

By: Dustin Duncan

Desiree Hutcherson-Bates, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System regional agent, recently worked with several community partners to help students at Glen Oaks Intermediate School in Fairfield learn about fresh fruits and vegetables through a new school garden. Hutcherson-Bates works with Alabama Extension at Auburn University’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education (SNAP-Ed). The program uses a complementary and multitiered approach to create healthy food environments for limited-resource communities.

SNAP-Ed partnered with Fairfield City Schools, Jones Valley Teaching Farm, Better Basics and Full Plate to construct nine raised-bed gardens, where students will plant fruits and vegetables. Lowe’s donated seeds and The Home Depot donated paint for the beds. Hutcherson-Bates wanted to make connections with community partners that have similar passions for helping create healthy food environments in schools.

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