(Photo: greenarbytheday.com)
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) -- Arkansas GardenCorps will be conducting taste tests with students at Mabelvale Magnet Middle School as part of an effort to improve eating habits of middle school youth. Students will be tasting okra grown in their school garden and giving feedback to school staff. Student feedback will be used to tailor recipes for future taste tests and eventually lunch offerings in the school cafeteria.
Students have been working in a school garden at Mabelvale since the Delta Garden Study's pilot program during the 2010-2011 school year. The garden is currently maintained and used as a teaching tool by Kristy Brownell, a member of Arkansas GardenCorps. Arkansas GardenCorps is a newly established AmeriCorps program that places service members in school and community gardens to increase environmental awareness and sustainable agriculture practices.
Arkansas GardenCorps and the Delta Garden Study are programs of the Childhood Obesity Prevention Research Program at Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute