Quarterly Impact Report
Polly Cummins Chase
Extension Agent/Fort Berthold
July, August, September 1999
Issue: The youth garden project in the community of New Town. The youth garden project was a way to provide an opportunity for youth to take part in a cultural and educational experience. The intention of the youth garden project is to encourage a healthy way to produce food, learn a life long skill by participating in hands-on activities and to promote a cultural learning experience.
Objective: To provide the experience of planning and planting a garden, to gain skills in gardening, and to learn about the cultural importance of gardening since the Mandan and Hidatsa Tribes were agrarian people. We would like to encourage responsibility by working in the garden, to develop knowledge in garden produce and their nutrients and to expose youth to careers in agriculture, horticulture and commercial gardening.
Collaborative Efforts: The Fort Berthold Extension Service, Fort Berthold Community College Agriculture Department, Fort Berthold Expanded Food and Nutrition Program, parents, grandparents and elders of the community.
Extension=s Role: The Fort Berthold Extension Agent/4-H Youth wrote the grant, made all contacts and organized the project. The Extension Agent/Farm and Family Economics and the Extension Agent/Foods and Nutrition along with the Extension Agent/4-H Youth spent time with youth at the garden and provided educational activities during garden day.
Audience: Recruited the fourth graders at the Edwin Loe Elementary School. Other youth were also welcomed and the group included youth ages 5 to 12 years of age.
Evaluation Measures: The youth were given a pre-test about gardening at the beginning of the summer a post-test at the end of the summer. At the end of each garden day the youth were asked what they learned and the Extension Agents and Expanded Food and Nutrition Educators were on hand to answer questions.
Reaction of Participants: AI never knew cucumbers grew large like this,@ AI always thought spinach tasted gross,@ and, AI didn=t know lady bugs were good for gardens.@
Impact: The Youth gained knowledge of garden skills and prepared and ate fresh produce. They gained knowledge on how their ancestors planted gardens and the types of tools they used. Some youth were inspired to grow mini gardens at their homes. Flowers were planted along the edge of the garden to provide insight on which flowers the bugs would be attracted to so that they would not eat the garden produce. The whole community was interested in the youth garden. Elders were involved by sharing information and they were invited to the Garden Party so youth could share their produce with them. As a result of the garden, there is an interest in gardening by adults. Eighteen youth participated each week in garden activities. The youth garden kids organized on May 20th. They planted their garden in June and on August 25th they held a garden party. They harvested their produce and prepared a meal and served 60 people. They garden party was attended by youth, their parents and grandparents, elders and other community members.
Funding Source: The National Gardening Association and Extension Agents, Expanded Food and Nutrition Educators staff time and Fort Berthold 4-H Council.
Contact: Polly Cummins Chase
Extension Agent/4-H Youth
PO Box 459
Fort Berthold Extension Service
New Town, North Dakota 59763