Adair County DHS partners with Cherokee Nation and OSU Extension to help children 'Learn to Grow'

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The Adair County child care licensing office of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) has partnered with the Cherokee Nation Child Care Resource and Referral Office and OSU Extension Services to help children in child care learn how to grow healthy food.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Adair County child care licensing office of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) has partnered with the Cherokee Nation Child Care Resource and Referral Office and OSU Extension Services to help children in child care learn how to grow healthy food.

The ‘Learn to Grow’ project was launched in 2013 and funded by a grant from the Cherokee Nation to purchase plants and garden beds for child care homes and centers throughout the county. The purpose of the project is to teach children how to plant and grow vegetables and make healthy food choices.

“The gardens are a big success!” said Nancy Wolf, Adair County DHS child care services. “We have 102 child care homes, centers and Head Start locations participating this year. This allows the children in our participating homes and centers to eat food that is actually home grown, direct from their own gardens.”

At a recent conference for the participating child care providers, a chef prepared a variety of dishes including pizza, quiche, mashed cauliflower, ratatouille and simple spaghetti sauce, using fresh ingredients. All the recipes were shared with providers to help them prepare and cook nutritious meals for the children in their care.

Garden beds and spring plants have already been delivered to participating child care homes and centers, along with children’s gardening tools, vegetable steamers, watering cans and children’s books about gardening that includes tips and ideas on how to grow a healthy garden. 

Child care centers and owners in Craig, Delaware, Mayes, Nowata, and Ottawa counties participated in the program last year and have documented the growth of their gardens through stories and photos that have been compiled into a book that will be sent to First Lady Michelle Obama.

“We want to thank our wonderful partners for all they’ve done to make this program such a success,” said Wolf. “We simply could not do this without the generosity of the Cherokee Nation and OSU Extension.”

      

Plants and gardening items donated to Adair County DHS child care licensing

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