Hello , my name is Gail Mills, Director of Project Worth Outreach. Also, I am the Project Coordinator of our Grow Appalachia Garden Program.
Today, I would like to tell everyone about our Project Worth Outreach youth organic gardeners. above is a photo of the youth gardeners displaying their produce before their sale on Friday, August 1.
The youth sold tomatoes, summer squash, green beans, cabbage, corn, watermelon and peaches. The youth sale raised more than$500.00, not a bad day of sales. They have also attempted to trade and barter their wares. A lot of valuable lessons have been learned by the youth with their gardening efforts. First of all to be successful raising a garden you have to be committed to putting in several hours of work, not only in the garden but doing research on the internet and working in the classroom. These principles begin in the winter and continue through the growing season. Then when produce is ripe and ready for sale, it has to be cleaned and spruced up so it will be presentable to the buyers. Displaying vegetables for sale is an art in itself. Produce displaying needs to be colorful with the reds yellows greens and browns coordinated to catch the eye of the public. Most sales are impulse buying. We are very proud of our youth gardeners and realize how very hard they have studied and worked all summer. They have been disappointed at times when bugs and storms would mess with their gardens. They were quick to regroup and keep on working to improve the gardens. They just wouldn’t give up to pests or weather and as you can see it really paid off. They are a committed group and hope they will return to garden with us again next year..
Below, please find more photos and this week’s recipe. Have a great week and happy gardening.
Gail Mills with youth produce
youth garden
youth garden
youth garden
youth with their produce
youth produce
watermelon
cabbage
yellow squash
yellow tomatoes
green beans
red tomatoes
Vegetable Pizza
2lbs. pkgs. Crescent rolls
2 (8 oz.) pkgs. Cream Cheese
1 c. Miracle Whip
1 c. broccoli
1 c. celery
1 c. carrots
1 c. radishes
1 c. cauliflower
1 pkg. dry hidden Valley Ranch mix
Roll out rolls in jellyroll pan and bake at 400* until slightly brown (approximately 10 minutes) Mix cream cheese, Miracle Whip and dressing until smooth and spread on cool crust. Add raw vegetables and refrigerate.
Mary Wallace
Hey Gail! This is Jeffrey.
It’s wonderful to see that pavilion filled with young faces. When I first saw it, I only got to hear about the activities that take place there, so it’s nice knowing that these young folks have a venue to learn how to sell. I really do think it’s great that you’re making them think about presentation and bartering. These skills are so, so important.
Oh, as someone who always craves pizza, I appreciate the recipe that you’ve included.
I hope you and Alex are doing well!
Gail, This is fantastic, teaching young people to grow these fabulous gardens. It is something that will stick with them the rest of their lives!
I learned to garden with my grandparents, mother and many aunts. Not all children have somebody in the family to teach them gardening, so it is wonderful that you are doing this.
Gretain Letcher County