(Lander, WY) – Fremont County School District #1’s after-school education program Lights On! and nonprofit group Wind River Farm to Plate have teamed up for the beginning stages of a new school garden.
The garden will be a part of the many Lights On! year-round after-school and summer programs made available to interested students.
According to Lights On! program director Ceatriss Wall and program assistant Vivian Brown, the main goal of this endeavor is to “get students to make healthier food choices, and to understand that food doesn’t come from grocery stores.”
The garden will grow “a variety of fruit and vegetables that can be utilized to educate our kids in gardening and eating healthy.”
“Each different class will have a role to play and the grades will be divided so that they each have a bed to take care of,” Brown stated.
Lights On! had initially partnered with Wind River Farm to Plate for a series of kids’ cooking classes, which eventually even led to student-written cookbook.
After finding success with those classes, the seeds for a school garden were planted. “Kids were eating Brussels sprouts braised in Balsamic vinegar and fighting over the last lick of hummus from the spoon!” Brown stated.
The garden project is also currently looking for any individuals to help build, install, plant, and potentially lead classes.
If you have any expertise in these areas, or are interested in getting your child involved with Lights On! programs contact Wall at: [email protected]