Grow Marengo program connects students to agricultural roots

From the West Alabama Newsroom–

Students in Marengo County — are engaging in a hands-on learning activity — to learn where the vegetables we eat come from.

Grow Marengo — teaches students the complete journey of vegetables — from plant to plate.

Tuskegee University Extension Agent David Miller assists the students with the project — but the students do much of the work — and they learn a lot.

“It teaches them, first of all, that food don’t come out of Wal-Mart,” Miller said.

“They take the seeds, prepare the soil and then cultivate them. Once they cultivate them to full maturity, we harvested them. Then they process them. And then they in turn are served in the cafeteria.”

“I learned how to make the soil just right for the plants, how to plant the plants and how to pick them,” said AL Johnson 6th Grader Keantez Dixon.

“I had to make sure the plants were growing. And had to make sure the plants was good,” said 6th Grader Darryl Dumas.

The program also focuses on the nutrition — safety — and the health benefits associated with eating home grown vegetables.

“Growing your own food is more healthy because you know where it’s coming from,” said Senior Tyashia McGhee.

“So we teach them how to grow the vegetables with materials that are good for them, not harmful to the environment. And to stay away from the chemicals and pesticides that may cause problems later on,” said Miller.

The vegetables the students grow — will be put on the menu and eaten for lunch in the school cafeteria — before the Christmas break.

Schools in both the Marengo County — and Linden City school districts — are participating in the program.