Urban Gardening Project For Children Flourishing

June 20, 2013

Ever’man Natural Foods and the Pathways For Change children’s program, “Pathways For Success” have spent the last six months working on an urban gardening program for children in Pensacola.

Despite the humble beginnings of the partnership, the project is now flourishing and the staff and volunteers are looking to further enhance and expand this educational opportunity for the children.

The Pathways For Success afterschool and summer care program is offered four days per week for children ranging in grades 1-5.  After connecting with Ever’man Natural Foods at the end of last year, the two organizations transformed an asphalt area behind the afterschool and summer program center  into a lush series of container gardens.

The project works to educate children on healthy food and gardening while empowering  the kids to take responsibility for the garden by encouraging input and effort, such as choosing which  plants to cultivate and watering the garden regularly.

Throughout the summer months, gardening will  continue while staff members look toward the fall, pursing new grants to cover the modest cost need for each season’s transition.

“When a little boy took my hand and drew me to his garden, I knew this project was special. When he said, ‘Look Ms. Connie, this is broccoli, I thought it only came in a box!’ I knew we were changing a  future,” said Connie Bookman, the executive director of Pathways for Change.

Pictured:  An urban garden behind Pathways for Change in Pensacola. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News