The Arkansas School Garden Grant Program has awarded $500 to Davis Elementary to expand their school garden.
Davis students and staff will use the funds to add raised beds, plant perennials, and repair the green house. Each grade level will grow their own herbs and vegetables starting in the spring.
School gardens provide a hands-on opportunity for children to learn about Arkansas agriculture, help them discover where food comes from, and develop healthy eating habits. Research shows that when a student plants a seed, they are more likely to taste and try the food when it is ready to harvest resulting in greater acceptance of fruits and vegetables.
The grant program was developed with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to increase production of specialty crops in school gardens. Specialty crops as defined by the USDA are fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops.
Davis Elementary is one of 52 schools across Arkansas approved for funding through the Arkansas School Garden Grant Program.