Project name: A Garden Experience
County: Adams
Project Coordinator: Ben Geaumont
Lead Organization: 4-H Adventures Club
Address: 410 8th Street S., Hettinger, ND58639
Telephone: 701.567.3044Email:
- Briefly describe your garden project including its major goals. Please include a description of activities and the location of the garden (for example, Jefferson Elementary School). (150 words or less)
The goal of our project is to develop a youth garden through our local 4-H club. We will use the garden as a platform to educate and excite participants about gardening. Participants will discuss various topics at a series of meetings held in conjunction with the Adventure’s 4-H club monthly meetings. Participants will determine what to grow in the garden and decide what will be done with the produce. Youth will be encouraged to donate to the food pantry and to set up a stand at the local farmers. The stand will raise awareness of the community garden and generate funds for future gardens. Participants will plant and help maintain the garden throughout the summer. Curriculum from the Junior Master Gardener Program (JMG) will be used. The youth garden will be at Larson’s Farm in Hettinger and part of the larger community garden previously established in 2016.
- How will your project make a difference to itschildren? (150 words or less)
Despite being embedded in an agricultural landscape, many residence of ND do not grow their own vegetables. This lack of gardening by parents, results in kids who do not know how or understand the value of growing one’s own vegetables or worse, have never tasted fresh produce picked directly from the garden. Our youth garden will introduce many to the joys of gardening and provide experiences and skills that will prepare them to grow their own garden in the future. The garden will provide opportunity for youth to interact with others about gardening and provide a service to the community by donating produce should they choose to do so. Children will have the opportunity to grow their own vegetables that can be shown at the County Fair. Finally, kids will have the chance to eat fresh healthy produce grown in their own garden, which is a rewarding experience.
- How will your project make a difference in your community? (150 words or less)
Most small communities lack a consistent source of good produce and Hettinger is no different. Gardening is one way to substitute lack of produce during the growing season. A long-standing youth garden program in Hettinger could generate more interest in gardening and ultimately lead to more locally grown food, a good thing for the community due to the health benefits associated with eating fruits and vegetables. By encouraging the participants to donate to the food pantry, a wider demographic of the community will benefit. Finally, we started our “adult” community garden in 2016 and incorporating a youth component will raise awareness that the location exists and is available to folks interested in growing healthy food.
- Please estimate the number of participants directly involved in the project:
Young children (3–12 years old): 15
Teens (13–17 years old): 10
Adults: 5–6
- Briefly list any partners (such as 4-H, FFA, school, church, garden center, parks department) that are involved.Briefly describe their roles in the project.Be very brief.
4-H – the initial meetings will be held as part of the Adventure’s club meetings. Planting, harvest and one pollinator meeting will be held at the garden as part of the Adventure’s club meetings. Other local 4-H clubs will be invited to participate. Additional activities will occur at the garden site outside of the scheduled 4-H meetings. All youth from town will be welcome to take part. A special invitation will be extended to the local FFA group, as kids in this group are not necessarily in 4-H, but often share the same interest.
- Budget
Expenditures Amount
Garden tools (rakes, hoes, shovels, small ground
scratchers, and hand shovels, kids garden gloves 167
Garden hoses, t-valve to split garden hoses,
sprinklers and water cans 128
Seed packets, seed potatoes, started plants 150
Water onetime payment 100
JMG leader guides and youth handbooks 142
TOTAL687
For projects coordinated by organizationsoutside of NDSU Extension
(to be completed by local NDSU educator)
Please describe your Extension office’s involvement in this garden program (recruiting youth, teaching, coordinating volunteers, providing meeting space). (150 words or less)
Ben Geaumont and I have talked about the JMG program grant application. He was excited to apply for the grant and we talked about the project “A Garden Experience”. I will work with Ben on getting all the local 4-H groups notified about the gardening meetings and information about local community garden. I will help him with lessons and meetings at the garden site. I have materials and resources in my office what that he will be able to use for the project.
I support this project and will work with the coordinator to ensure a positive educational experience for the youth.
Julie Kramlich______3-13-17______
Name of NDSU Extension Service staff Date