Lexington One’s Parenting Center builds community garden to grow healthy habits

LEXINGTON, SC – Three raised garden beds are built and ready for planting at The Parenting Center of Lexington County School District One. Center staff and volunteers recently constructed the beds for a Healthy South Carolina Initiative Community Garden on the grounds of Rosenwald Community Learning Center.

Parents and children involved in The Parenting Center’s school-readiness program will plant and maintain the garden. Fall crops will include kale, broccoli, cabbage, parsley, spinach and beets. The staff plans to use recipes and activity books to integrate this hands-on experience into early reading, mathematics and science activities.

Planting will begin in the next few weeks. Once harvested, some of the produce will be used to make snacks during parent and child activity time and families will take some of the items home.

The program will expose children and families to gardening and healthier eating choices that can lead to healthy habits for life. The Parenting Center chose raised beds, because they are easily duplicated with minimal expense.

A Healthy South Carolina Initiative grant provided funding for the garden.

Lead Parent Educator Marla Hamilton, Parent Educator Maria Arroyo, Lexington One Lead Nurse Jessica Porter, Parent Educator Missy Martin and Parent Educator Gigi Towers prepare a raised bed for the Lexington One Parenting Center community garden.