Here at GeoPot, we believe in the power of community engagement to educate and empower people to become self-sufficient growers. That’s why we were so excited to hear about an inspiring new program being spearheaded by the 4-H Purdue Extension in Floyd County, Indiana. They’re expanding on the organization’s traditional farm-to-market model by addressing the issues of food deserts and food access for at-risk and troubled youths.
Purdue Extension partners with local communities “not only to grow and supply nutritious food but also to deepen partnerships, provide education and ultimately strengthen people.” We spoke with Extension Educators Gina Anderson and Sam McCollum about their new program and how it takes the 4-H club to a new, groundbreaking level of community service.
Can you start by giving us a brief overview of your particular branch of the 4-H organization?
We serve Purdue Extension in Floyd County, just across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. We bring research-based information from the university level to the county level to share with our residents.
You are launching an effort to address food deserts and food access for at-risk or troubled youth. Can you tell us more about this project?
Before COVID, we knew there was already an issue with access to local food, and this became even more apparent as the pandemic continued. As we talked through how to help alleviate this problem, the idea of a grow kit came to mind. Our grow kits include a 3-gallon GeoPot fabric pot filled with soil, a drip tray, a water spritz bottle, plant labels, seeds for basil, carrots, and radish, an activity booklet, and a pepper plant.
These kits were distributed to 5th graders in our community, and as the word spread, more grade levels asked for them. We have distributed them to pre-school groups all the way through 6th grade. Our office has and will continue to make videos that go along with the kits including an introduction to the grow kit, how potting soil and ground soil differ, and how to plant their pepper plant. Future videos will include how to make a meal with their produce.
Traditionally, 4-H agricultural projects tend to focus on participation in the county fair. What inspired you to look beyond this format?
Floyd County is not a “traditional” county. Due to the size of the county, population density, and useable agricultural space, the Floyd County Purdue Extension Office has to think outside the box when it comes to outreach on agriculture and 4-H programming.
The fair is a great way to showcase the hard work youth have done in the 4-H program over the year, but Extension is more than that. The positive impact that we leave on our community, its youth, and its constituents is key to a successful program, and that doesn’t always mean receiving a ribbon at the end of the year.
Being able to impact the youth in our community on the importance of agriculture in every setting, either rural or urban, was a big inspiration with the educators here in the Floyd County Purdue Extension Office.
What challenges do you expect to face with this project, and how do you hope to overcome them?
Like any other community project, funding will always be a challenge. We have received so much positive feedback from the current participants, both youth and teachers, and that will be key in funding requests for continuing the program.
What impact do you hope this initiative makes on the community?
We hope to increase awareness of the importance of urban agriculture, promote healthy habits, introduce easy access to fresh vegetables, and cultivate agricultural gardening practices by giving people opportunities for growing in the future.
We thank Gina Anderson and Sam McCollum for taking some time to tell us about their inspiring program and making GeoPot fabric pots an essential part of their grow kits. Find more information on the 4-H Purdue Extension.
