1. Growing Good Kids: Making a
difference via Horticulture
Dr. Kathryn Orvis
Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist
Dept. Youth Development and Ag Education
And
Dept. Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
Purdue University
EMAIL: orvis@purdue.edu

3. “All the lessons of life are in
the garden. Birth, nurturing,
growth, joy, sometimes
heartbreak, and ultimately a
sense of hope.”
- gardening columnist Lee May

4. Why Horticulture?
« Because plants are cool, of course!
And…
] Relatively safe and simple way to allow youth
to have an experience with a “living
organism” – other than themselves
] Provides opportunity to interact with world
around them
] Plants involved in almost every aspect of life

5. Why gardening?
« Involves additional aspects of natural world
« Allows for connections to many (if not all)
academic areas
« Provides an easy way for people to get
involved

6. Why youth?
« Future workforce
« Caretakers of the Earth (and each other)
« Gardening, horticulture and plants
provide an opportunity for youth to
experience hands-on or experiential
hands-on,
learning

7. Youth Gardening
« Youth gardening is an extremely
powerful teaching medium!

8. Garden Based Education Research
« Growing plants and gardening is
good for kids.
« We've always known it - now
research proves it!
« How can you make an impact on
those youths in your community?

9. Research shows the Importance of
Children’s Gardening:
« Children participating in gardening
programs not only benefit form greater self
esteem but are more likely to gain better
nutritional habits as well, in addition to
many other benefits.
(Babcock, 1909; Cronin-Jones, 2000; Joyce &
Ferenga, 1999; Kahtz, 1995; Lineberger &
Zajicek, 2000; McGinn & Relf, 2001;
Waliczek, Bradley, & Zajicek, 2001;
Waliczek, Mattson, & Zajicek, 1996;
Waliczek & Zajicek, 1999)

10. Gardening and… Nutrition & Exercise
« Use of school gardens has been shown to
increase fruit and vegetable consumption
with participating children
– (Zajicek &Lineberger, 2000; Cavalier, 1987; Gwynn,
1988; Morris & Zindenberg-Cherr, 2002).
« Gardening is a physical activity,
encourages kids to be outside and active

11. Social Benefits -
« Gardens help increase self-esteem,
provide economic and physiological
benefits and are a place for social
interaction.
(Waliczek et.al, 1996)

12. Additional benefits
« Gardens as living laboratories for science
discovery (Klemer, 2002)
« Experiential learning develop critical thinking
skills (Byerly, 2001)
« Learn applied academic skills – such as math
used to determine plant spacing (Wotoweic, 1979)
« Awareness of the natural world and relation to
own well-being (Relf, McDaniel and Butterfield, 1992)
« Gardens provide interdisciplinary learning
environment (Sheffield, 1992; Monk, 1995)

13. JMG -– A 4-H Youth Gardening Program
4-
« Designed to be flexible – use & audience
« Curriculum integrated across subject areas
« Activities are hands-on – for both group
and independent learning
« Matched to academic standards
« Integrates service learning and life skill
development

14. JMG ®
« The sound academic standards of the JMG
program coupled with a creative hands-on
teaching delivery, capitalizes on the strengths of
all youth. The program cultivates personal
leadership,
leadership volunteerism and character
education.
education

15. Youth involved in the JMG program
« 2003 – 39,606 registered youth
… which equals 1242 groups
« Estimated 1 million youth impacted
annually nation-wide
« National 4-H enrollment for 2003 –
7.1 million

16. Indiana JMG stats
« Several counties (30+)
« Thirty-six officially registered groups,
many many others using
] Started March 2001
« Success in different settings and
with different audiences
« Crosses over between Extension
program areas (ANR, 4H, CFS)

17. Ways to reach out
« Partnerships
« Grassroots efforts
« Media and PR
« Think outside the box!

18. Partnerships
National Program Partnerships Include -
« Cooperative Extension Service, Land-Grant
University System
« AmeriCorps
« National Wildlife Federation
« Learn & Serve America
« Schools to Careers
« Master Gardener Associations
« Children's Better Health Institute

19. JMG Grassroots
« Join the JMG grassroots efforts and let
teachers & youth leaders in your town know
about Junior Master Gardener and the benefits it
offers for children!

20. Community connections and program
cross over: an example
« Think outside the box!
« Example: using gardening to teach
nutrition, improve eating habits,
increase physical activity
« Did you know – gardening is a good
workout!
Activity Estimated calories burned
(100-200 lb person)
gardening – general 125-430
lawn mowing 300-475
raking lawn 220-345

21. Health and Nutrition from the Garden
Did you know?
« Seeds can be purchased with food stamp dollars
« Research has shown that kids who grow their own
fruits and vegetables are more likely to eat them
« JMG H&N teaches healthy eating habits, growing
own food, economics, & food safety
« Works well with Federal Food Nutrition Education
Programs (ex: FNP/EFNEP)

22. Health and Nutrition from the Garden
« Can be a way for teachers
and leaders to easily
introduce better eating
habits and healthy lifestyle
skills
« Community connections are
broad –
] Extension areas, community
groups, hospitals, government
agencies, schools, etc.

23. Health and Nutrition from the Garden
« Partnership with faith-based not-for-profit group
affiliated with hospitals in Illinois and Indiana
] HealthVisions Midwest
] Mission is educating high-risk
populations in nutrition and healthy
living
] Saw JMG H&N as a way to get kids interested, eating
healthy, and active
« Fostering relationships with community partners
– Extension, YMCA, YWCA, Boys & Girls
Clubs, Community Centers, etc.

24. What’s New?
« JMG leader discussion group – by
Yahoo!
« Lots of info and resources on-line
« Curriculum:
] Wildlife Gardener – released last spring
] Literature in the Garden – piloted fall,
release scheduled for summer 2005
–Now…..a preview….
Now…..a

25. Newest Golden Ray Series…
Wildlife Gardener
* A partnership between
NWF and JMG

26. Wildlife Gardener
As Wildlife Gardeners, children will:
gain understanding and appreciation for wildlife
that is part of their local community
enjoy novel, hands-on project-based learning as
they have fun gardening for wildlife
build components of wildlife garden habitat
while participating in an integrated curriculum that strengthens
skills in math, science, language and social studies.

27. A sneak preview...

28. Literature in the Garden
sm

29. Literature in the Garden sm
•Hands on
garden content
inspired by
great children’s
literature

30. Literature in the Garden sm
Teaching Concepts:
1 Garden Basics
2-7 Selected Literature
8 Life Skills &
Career Exploration
Service Learning/
Leadership Skills

31. Literature in the Garden sm
• Brings literature to life
• Integrates gardening
across all subject areas
• recognizes
youths with
certification

32. Literature in the Garden sm
6 Growing Good Kids Award Winners

33. Literature in the Garden sm
6 Growing Good Kids Award Winners

34. Literature in the Garden sm
6 Growing Good Kids Award Winners

35. Literature in the Garden sm
6 Growing Good Kids Award Winners

36. Literature in the Garden sm
6 Growing Good Kids Award Winners

37. Literature in the Garden sm
6 Growing Good Kids Award Winners

38. Literature in the Garden
sm

40. Impact and Evaluation :
Demonstrating Results
« examples of JMG evaluation
and impact
« examples of success stories
and ways to use

41. Studies with JMG® Demonstrate
« Improved science achievement scores
« Increased environmental awareness and positive
attitudes
« Improve nutritional knowledge, attitudes and eating
behavior
« Develop leadership skills, including self-esteem,
problem solving and communication skills
« Students share information learned with others
« Following the program, teachers and students
indicate interest in further gardening activities
(Meyer et al 2001) ; (Zajicek et al, 1998-2000);
1998-
(Skelly, S., &Zajicek, J., 1998) (Dirks&Orvis, 200x)

42. JMG® National Leaders Survey
« The majority of respondents (75%) were school
teachers, Cooperative Extension employees
and/or volunteers, and home school educators
« Findings indicated that
] adults noticed their students had increased interest in
science, teamwork skills, personal responsibility, and
enthusiasm for learning
] the program boosted the general classroom
environment, increased community service projects,
increased awareness of nutrition, and caused students
to try new foods
(Boleman and Cummings, 2003)

43. Indiana JMG study
« Minnesota also investigated JMG – positive
results
« Investigated gardening as a teaching tool for
science achievement and attitudes in 3rd grade
classrooms
« Knowledge Gain (Multiple Choice Questions)
] Overall significant gain for all classrooms - 14%
increase in scores over base line
« Attitude (Likert-type Scale Questions)
] Overall significant gain for all classrooms -17% in
attitudes (1/2 point increase on 3 point scale)

44. Results Teacher Evaluation
« Teachers indicated attitude or behavior changes
observed in students.
] Majority reported “liked/loved” the program
] Suggested areas of improvement
– Time - not finishing or being rushed
– program expenses
« Teaching techniques
] Use of outdoors, Engaging students, Time
« Student Interest - important observation

45. Results Student Evaluation
« “one thing I learned” – listed:
] Cannot live without plants
] How to plant seed/flowers/plants
] About insects
] Worms and composting
« Community Service project performed
] Cleaned up area/picked up litter and Planting/gardening
« Majority shared learning with others

46. Results Summary
Use of JMG in the classroom indicated:
1) increased knowledge gain in areas of
science and the environment.
2) positive attitudes towards science and the
environment.
3) ease of use in the classroom by teachers.
4) students “had fun” participating in the
program.

47. Ways to document impact
« So what if you aren’t a researcher?
] Examples of JMG evaluation tools from
others
– Adapt and use as needed
] Pre-post type evaluations or single post
program evaluations
– Investigate what they learned, how they feel,
attitudes, what they think or remember, etc….
] Observations – by teacher or leader
] Simple is good!

48. Examples of JMG
Success Stories
« Juvenile Detention Centers
« Urban areas
« Home School Groups
« Community partners
« After School Programs
« Traditional Classrooms
« 4-H or Garden Clubs

49. JMG Success Stories
« Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility
a.k.a.‘Girls School’
] 3 classes, 30+ students Ages 14-18
] Works well with reading abilities
] Girls wanted to do ALL activities!
] Community service – beautify campus grounds
and housing units

50. JMG Success Stories
Eden Keepers
] Adopted by Gibson County Master Gardeners
] Completed certification activities in 2 months,
first group certified in Indiana
] Great community service work –
– Gardening get-well cards for terminal cancer patient
– Worked with elderly couple in community
– Landscaped local Nature Center and Gibson County
Animal Shelter

51. Graduation!

52. Additional Support in Indiana
« State website with downloadable forms,
links to other resources, helpful hints
« Linked state academic standards to
curriculum
« Provide training to groups ‘on-demand’
« Carry JMG curriculum in Extension Media
Distribution Center (volume discount)

53. Youth Gardening and JMG
« Youth gardening is an great
way to teach and inspire youth!
] Why horticulture
] Why gardening
] Why youth
« Also provides community connections and
involvement!

54. “One who plants a garden,
plants happiness.”
-Chinese proverb