Like peas in a pod: Scotts, Head Start partner again

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and the National Head Start Association (NHSA) have teamed up to bring the GroMoreGood Garden Grants to community gardens across the country.

Head Start programs can apply through December 18, 2023, for the opportunity to receive garden resources.

“A sixth year of GroMoreGood Garden Grants with the National Head Start Association, will bring the benefits of gardens and getting outside to more children and families,” said Katherine Dickens, director, ESG & social impact at ScottsMiracle-Gro.

Over the past five years, the partnership has reached nearly 10,000 youth across 27 states and districts. In addition, more than 5,000 adults have benefitted from the program, said the lawn and garden firm.

“It’s critically important to get kids outside, so they have the opportunity to grow food, taste fresh veggies and receive the wellness benefits of being outdoors,” said Dickens.

Garden-based learning improves educational outcomes, enhances social and emotional learning, and – perhaps most importantly – engages every child’s innate wonder and care for the natural world, said the company.

The impact can be measured by green peppers, butterfly gardens and zinnias, but the grant recipients capture the way these gardens grow so much more:

• “The impact of this program is permanent,” said Jennifer Bagdanov from Acelero MM Freehold Head Start, a grant recipient. “Children will forever remember the way their tomatoes grew from a seed and taste in the salad; they will know joy when they see mud, and know it is not only OK to get dirty, it’s encouraged!”
   
• “One child from our program absolutely would not try vegetables for his mom at all and he was one to come and help plant the garden in the beginning,” said Megan White-Noel with Blue Water Community Action Head Start.

“NHSA is proud of our continuing partnership with The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation to support experiential learning, foster curiosity, and encourage even more Head Start children and their families to learn and play outside this year,” said Yasmina Vinci, NHSA executive director.