www.johnsonpublications.zenfolio.com Brooke Robertson | Johnson Publications
Daycare Director Shari Anderson (left) and Teacher Karith Williams assist Hugs-N-Teddybears students in planting their garden. PCHS Administrator Adair Reese, behind Anderson, also assisted.
Garden growing at Hugs-N-Teddybears
Hugs-N-Teddybears Preschool and Daycare students will soon reap the fruits of their labor when they get to harvest and eat their planted vegetables.
Students planted tomatoes, cucumbers and green peppers in large planters on the daycare playground Wednesday, May 30 as part of USDA’s Farm to Preschool program.
Perkins County Health Services Foundation Administrator Adair Reese arranged sponsors for the program, which include Country Gardens donating the plants and Country Supply donating watering cans.
The Farm to Preschool program encompasses efforts to serve local- or regionally-produced foods in early child care and education settings and provide hands-on learning activities, such as gardening. Serving local foods and offering hands-on activities can increase children’s willingness to try new foods.
The Child and Adult Care Food Program, which the daycare participates in, is a federally funded program that provides aid to child care facilities for the provision of nutritious meals and snacks that contribute to the wellness, healthy growth and development of young children.
Daycare Director Shari Anderson said they serve vegetables with lunch, and there are many kids who don’t know what they are.
Farm to Preschool is recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an opportunity to increase access to healthy environments for improved early eating habits and obesity prevention in early care and education.