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Mabelvale Garden Update »Mabelvale Garden Update This past week, Karl Heinbockel and fellow Delta Garden Study interns have had the opportunity to escape the fluorescent lights of the office and work in the bright sunshine at the Mabelvale Magnet Middle School gardens and greenhouse. In spite of the oppressive heat, there is still much to do to prepare for the coming school year at Mabelvale Magnet Middle School. We are removing the residue from last year's crops (and weeds!) and replacing them with a buckwheat cover crop to revitalize the soil. The buckwheat cover crop suppresses weed growth and once tilled in will add important organic material back into the soil. This allows new plants the ample nutrients necessary to blossom with great vigor. Healthy soil has been our focus this summer. In the fall, we will concentrate our efforts at producing a variety of food crops with the help of our students at Mabelvale! In the coming weeks, we will be continuing to clean up and organize the garden and greenhouse spaces so that this school year will be a great one for Delta Garden Study's showcase garden - Mabelvale!

FrontPage Article »See the Progress on our New Gardens! Don't forget to visit our Garden Schools’ webpages for pictures and stories about the progress of our new gardens. Liana, Kevin, Ryan and Cale have been busy developing their sites, planting a late summer garden, and getting to know their communities. Many thanks to all of their community members who have donated materials, equipment and labor!

About The Delta Garden Study »About The Delta Garden Study The Delta Garden Study is a $2 million research study funded by the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service designed to prevent childhood obesity and social risk behaviors, and improve academic achievement, in middle school children in the Delta and Central regions of Arkansas.

Garden Program Specialist

Kevin Keen

As an Arkansas native, I am extremely excited about the opportunity to teach students about various aspects of raising their own food, living a healthier lifestyle, and enjoying outdoor education. I am shocked each week when I visit the grocery store to purchase vegetables (I just moved to Cherokee Village in June and have not had time and/or space to develop my own garden) at the high price of food to feed just myself.

Additionally, it was only about four years ago that I was just a few points from being obese on the BMI scale. Fortunately, I have been able to reduce my weight by exercising and eating healthy. Since losing weight and eating more nutritious meals I feel better, have more energy, and a better attitude. My personal experience gives me the motivation to help other students’ lead healthier lifestyles. On the other hand, being involved in this great project helps prevent me from relapsing into my old habits that I never want to visit again.

Finally, I am excited to be able to educate youth in an outdoor setting. I want students to understand that the outdoors can be a place of escape. I often find myself leaving the office and going to the garden to work as a means of reducing eye stress and headaches. The garden at Highland Middle School is coming along really well and I look forward to having more than 200 students in the garden each week to experience its vast benefits and joys!!