The Garden Challenge was just one of the projects of the "Check Your Latitude" team employed through the Learning Shop. This was the community development center that often received government grants that allowed the organization to hire youth to create social programs for other youth. In the summer of 2007, we created and executed several projects:
The Garden Challenge, the ground-breaking work at a demonstration garden site (The Senden Site) kids camps and kitchens and "Recess"
The Garden Challenge was a pilot project with a goal of creating a learning atmosphere for the residents of Hazelton. With diabetes becoming a growing cause of heart disease in our area, we sought to educate and inspire locals to get their thumbs green and grow a garden. The Senden property site acted as a demonstration site, equipped with raised bed gardens and a green house to example growing techniques for agriculture accustomed to our regions climate. It was given a competitive edge as we documented the project, participants and their progress on a website blog . Slow-going at first, we found it successful. Participants vowed to return with bigger and greener vegetables now that they knew what they were doing.
The Senden site, as mentioned, was a demonstration garden site. The Check Your Latitude group was what I referred to as, "The wrecking crew." We were the first to begin landscaping, gardening and publicizing the site to the town. In the future, it would become a valuable and informative center meant to encourage sustainable farming and growing techniques, provide training for agricultural and other life skills, and be an established outlet for selling locally grown fruits and vegetables and wild game. It would be a positive asset to locals and visiting tourists eager to learn about the impact of food in our area and cultural methods of hunting and gathering.
We created camps and kitchen programs established at a younger generation as well. The camps consisted of games and activities meant to encourage physical activity, while the kitchen supported a partnering healthy diet. A fun part of the camp was to watch the "Veggie Heroes," super vegetable characters ready to smite lethargy and fatty foods! The children never did quite place why Devon Flynn and "The Amazing Apple" were never seen at the same time.
Where the Garden Challenge and kids kitchens were meant to impose and educate healthy eating habits, "Recess" was strictly meant to encourage physical activity. Although it initially was meant to pay homage to old school yard games like manhunt, capture the flag, and kick the can, it consisted primarily of manhunt, everyones favorite. The age of children who played ranged from 6-15, but they were all enthusiastic regardless. After the last game, I implored a message to the youth: they didn't need us to set the game up for them. All they required was a bit of leadership to gather a group of bored people wanting to play a game and someone to raise their hand and say "I'll be it." I was very disappointed to return the following summer and have a previous child inform me they didn't play another game after we left. Unfortunately, I believed this to foreshadow a deeper-rooted problem than just lack of enthusiasm or leadership...
The Kids Kitchen
Starting a potato patch
The Check Your Latitude Team
The Garden Challenge, the ground-breaking work at a demonstration garden site (The Senden Site) kids camps and kitchens and "Recess"
The Garden Challenge was a pilot project with a goal of creating a learning atmosphere for the residents of Hazelton. With diabetes becoming a growing cause of heart disease in our area, we sought to educate and inspire locals to get their thumbs green and grow a garden. The Senden property site acted as a demonstration site, equipped with raised bed gardens and a green house to example growing techniques for agriculture accustomed to our regions climate. It was given a competitive edge as we documented the project, participants and their progress on a website blog . Slow-going at first, we found it successful. Participants vowed to return with bigger and greener vegetables now that they knew what they were doing.
The Senden site, as mentioned, was a demonstration garden site. The Check Your Latitude group was what I referred to as, "The wrecking crew." We were the first to begin landscaping, gardening and publicizing the site to the town. In the future, it would become a valuable and informative center meant to encourage sustainable farming and growing techniques, provide training for agricultural and other life skills, and be an established outlet for selling locally grown fruits and vegetables and wild game. It would be a positive asset to locals and visiting tourists eager to learn about the impact of food in our area and cultural methods of hunting and gathering.
We created camps and kitchen programs established at a younger generation as well. The camps consisted of games and activities meant to encourage physical activity, while the kitchen supported a partnering healthy diet. A fun part of the camp was to watch the "Veggie Heroes," super vegetable characters ready to smite lethargy and fatty foods! The children never did quite place why Devon Flynn and "The Amazing Apple" were never seen at the same time.
Where the Garden Challenge and kids kitchens were meant to impose and educate healthy eating habits, "Recess" was strictly meant to encourage physical activity. Although it initially was meant to pay homage to old school yard games like manhunt, capture the flag, and kick the can, it consisted primarily of manhunt, everyones favorite. The age of children who played ranged from 6-15, but they were all enthusiastic regardless. After the last game, I implored a message to the youth: they didn't need us to set the game up for them. All they required was a bit of leadership to gather a group of bored people wanting to play a game and someone to raise their hand and say "I'll be it." I was very disappointed to return the following summer and have a previous child inform me they didn't play another game after we left. Unfortunately, I believed this to foreshadow a deeper-rooted problem than just lack of enthusiasm or leadership...
Lots of fresh local vegetables
The Hazelton Iron Chef Challenge
Veggie heroes
Our supervisor, Erica, helping promote an event
The Kids Kitchen
Starting a potato patch
The Check Your Latitude Team
Our bike-powered float in a parade
Checking up on a Garden Challenge Participant
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