An article at StarTribune.com discusses the impact of a schoolyard garden in Columbia Heights, MN. The garden is one of 30 or so new school gardens that have been created in Minnesota during the past year - double the number of such plots that existed previously. The new gardens are a result of the $47 million State Health Improvement Program [SHIP] that offers grant money to school districts and other community organizations to fight chronic disease, encourage exercise, promote healthy eating and discourage tobacco use.
SHIP was signed into law by Gov. Tim Pawlenty in 2008. The program allows local citizens to choose their own route toward a healthier community. Columbia Heights chose to build a garden classroom. About $20,000 or so of the $63,000 SHIP grant has already been used to buy the plants and install the infrastructure; the remainder will mostly be used to train classroom teachers on how to incorporate the garden into their lesson plans.
What a great start to the school year. This is an excellent way to get children physically active, learning about healthy foods, and engaged in their community. Congratulations to Columbia Heights!
