On Oct. 1, students from Stevenson Elementary School went on a mini field trip to enjoy the Russellville Urban Gardening Project. Each grade level spent approximately one hour at the garden, which is located on a previously vacant lot along East Fifth Street.
It began in the summer of 2014 and is a collaborative effort between the Logan County 4-H Office, the City of Russellville, and community volunteers such as Tina Wilson and Ed Williams.Kentucky State University has also helped with the project.
While touring the garden, students learned the components necessary for a plant to survive, as well as parts of plants such as stems, leaves, and roots. Students then had two workshops. The first, presented by 4-H Extension Agent Gary Michael Templeman, discussed the tiny mustard seed and how it could grow to a full size plant. Dr. Nancy Dawson presented the second workshop, in which students learned about how pumpkins are grown and how they can be used as food or for decoration.
Dr. Dawson said that the idea for the garden came when neighborhood children grew curious about the container garden at her home. During her workshop, she asked the children, "Do you know what it means to 'give back' to your community?" In so asking, she planted yet another seed—the spirit? of volunteerism that it takes to turn a simple idea into a thriving community asset.