Some of those programs do so through gardening which is certainly getting some focus from the Marshall County Iowa State Extension and Outreach.

Work on two gardening programs – Youth Garden and Healthy Living Education – is underway by Chelsea Martens, the Master Gardener coordinator for the county office.

The Youth Garden Program teaches youth the science behind plant growth and the development and benefits of growing produce at home. Master Gardeners volunteer in the program througout the summer and the year.

The youth in the program meet at nine garden locations in the county. Two more locations will be added this year. Martens said a grant called Growing Together Iowa Mini Grant will turn the Youth Garden locations into produce donation gardens.

Marshall County Extension Master Gardener coordinator Chelsea Martens is running the Youth Garden and Healthy Living Education programs which teach people about gardening and transforming produce into snacks.

“Through the use of the Mini Grant, the program donates to three locations here in Marshall County currently – the House of Compassion, Emergency Food Box and the Salvation Army,” Martens said. “Last year the volunteers and staff donated 935 pounds of produce back to the community. The program also taught over 450 youths the benefits of growing a garden.”

The Healthy Living Education program links growing produce at home and transforming them into delicious and healthy meals.

“We teach youth how to gather produce from the garden and then bring it inside to prepare a snack every time we meet,” Martens said.

The Marshall County Extension office received $3,000 from the Community Foundation of Marshall County for the programs.

“This money will be used for building new raised beds at Miller Middle School, buying gardening equipment and plants,” Martens said. “The other big project will be buying several composting bins to help improve the soil at several locations.”

The Youth Garden program through the Iowa State Extension and Outreach Marshall County office brings adult volunteers and youth together to learn about gardening.

The program is operated at nine locations where children can participate and older people can volunteer. The locations are:

• Franklin Elementary

• Rogers Elementary

• Hoglan Elementary

• St. Francis Elementary

• Lenihan Intermediate

• Miller Middle School

Additional locations is the Gutekunst Public Library in State Center, the YMCA and Bobcat University.

Martens said the House of Compassion is another location where volunteers can help but there is no youth education taking place there.

To volunteer, contact Martens at: chelsea@iastate.edu.

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Contact Lana Bradstream at lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.