Green Thumb Garden Program

The Green Thumb Garden Program provides an average of 170 families with garden supplies. The program is expected to yield $450 worth of food. We provide the supplies and the advice to get started with a garden. The program is funded through the Community Services Block Grant from the federal government, which is distributed to Community Action agencies in this state through the Tennessee Department of Human Services. By aiding our clients in learning to grow their own food, we increase food security (especially crucial in the several food deserts throughout Anderson County) as well as lower their households’ grocery expenses.

We love to encourage all low-income households to grow their own produce for economic and health benefits, but especially for our families with children. The bodies of children are still growing of course, but—just as importantly– habits and behaviors are still malleable. Research shows that  involving children in a school gardening program may do more than cultivate a green thumb. In one study, elementary school children showed increased willingness to try new foods after growing and cooking in a school-based kitchen and gardening program. Other studies show that, over time, students in schools with farm-to-school programs tend to: