Gardening and Nutrition

The American Horticultural Society (AHS) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are partners on a project that enlightens kids about the global importance of food plants, nutrition and agriculture. The Growing Connection uses modern informational technology to engage kids in the science of growing food, and in the experience of sharing with others their culture and experiments.

How Does the Program Work?

Kids in participating TASC after-school programs become engaged in the fight against hunger and obesity by growing and eating fresh vegetables. They discuss with kids in other countries the food-growing process the food and nutritional issues other kids face.

Each participating program receives six EarthBox kits, which are used as the growing systems at after-school sites.

A key element of The Growing Connection program was finding a growing unit that would allow experiments to be conducted in a scientifically consistent framework in many parts of the world. The EarthBox was chosen because it is a sustainably designed planter that can be used to grow plants successfully almost anywhere, with minimal input of water and fertilizer. The EarthBox is self-contained, portable, and simple to use. For more information, visit the EarthBox website.

Using the Internet, students communicate with partner schools to exchange questions, share stories and compare scientific data. The Growing Connection website helps educators and student scientists explore the world one garden at a time.

These activities help kids meet various learning standards through hands-on individual and collaborative activities. Kids have the opportunity to work on exciting scientific experiments related to horticulture, food, and nutrition all the while getting a better understanding of the important connection between people and plants.