Emily Hampton has grown the seed of an idea for improving community nutrition into a strong program that is bearing fruit in Lawrence.
A few years ago as Emily became involved in the Lawrence community gardening program, she realized that many consumers—and especially children—had no clear idea of where their food came from other than a fast food restaurant drive-through or a convenience store shelf. National studies found that French fries were the most common “vegetable” that children eat at 18 months of age.
In response, Emily launched what is now known as Healthy Sprouts. This Farm to Preschool program teaches young children, their parents and their care-givers about gardening and about cooking and preserving the food that they grow. The goals are to instill healthy eating habits early, to increase access to local, nutritious foods, and to provide comprehensive food education.
To date, the initiative has started 42 gardens in childcare settings in the Lawrence area. Emily and her partner educator Melissa Freiburger work with twelve childcare centers, 30 home daycare providers, and over 1,000 children each year. Melissa pointed out that the Lawrence curriculum has received national recognition from the Farm to School Peer Leadership Group.
Healthy Sprouts is a program within the Douglas County Child Development Association. The initiative teams with Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) in the area and is funded by Kansas Health Foundation, Assists Foundation, and donations from individuals and businesses in the community.
For more info about Healthy Sprouts check out their online links here: Facebook | Twitter | Wellcommons
