School garden nurtures community

The principal and teachers of St. Helena Central Middle School collaborated with Angela Myles, area youth agent, to establish a junior master garden club. Today, mustard greens are sprouting in the garden which doubles as a community garden. The garden is used to nurture community spirit, common purpose and culture appreciation among the diverse populations in the parish.

The children involved in the school-based 4-H Club, along with their parents, said the vibrant garden would be an environmental classroom for tangible educational projects, service learning and leadership development.

Several community leaders and local businesses are excited about volunteering in the garden project as a way of giving back to the community. The mission of the community garden is to bring school children and community members together to work for a sustainable planet. The project is designed to motivate and equip St. Helena residents to take action on behalf of youth at the community, organizational, family and individual levels.

As an outside classroom, the vegetable garden provides real life, hands-on experience to study health and nutrition, oral health, science, mathematics, ecology, agriculture and more.

The concept builds upon the existing community resources and assets; it has the power to change peoples’ lives and can affect St. Helena children in profound ways," said Myles.