Cox Landing Head Start students plant flowers, vegetable garden

LESAGE -- Students in the Cox Landing Head Start program got down and dirty this week planting a garden that will soon yield vegetables and see flowers blooming.

The program, Junior Master Gardeners, was developed by an agriculture extension agent at West Virginia State University. It was originally put together for third graders, but it has been reworked for preschool-age children, and Cox Landing Head Start is piloting the program in Cabell County, teacher Porcshia Davis said.

Davis said the garden project enables the teaching of math, science and literacy, and it gets the kids outside.

"Kids today don't know what gardening is," she said. "The kids all said they had fun ... taking sod off and looking for rocks."

They planted tomatoes, green onions, radishes and lettuce, along with marigolds, she said. And, she believes the kids will be willing to taste their vegetables when its time for the harvest.

Davis also said the garden is a long-term project that she hopes will span several seasons.

The Cox Landing Head Start also is looking to create community partnerships, as they are in need of shovels, rakes and garden hoses. To contribute or inquire about the project, call 304-733-6255.