Submitted by Janet L. Heiney
Health and Wellness Coordinator
Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department
"Gardens, scholars say, are the first sign of commitment to a community. When people plant corn they are saying, let's stay here. And by their connection to the land, they are connected to one another." - Anne Raver
A Community Service Day is today from 9 to 11 a.m. The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department will be assisting in preparing the community garden in Grantsville.
The garden space is graciously donated by Knotts Memorial United Methodist Church. Staff from WVU Extension, Change the Future WV, SNAP-Ed, AmeriCorps members, along with church and community volunteers will be getting the garden tilled, and ready to plant for the coming growing season.
SNAP-Ed is a program that teaches how to spend benefits wisely and healthily through messages about menu planning, budgeting, shopping, and cooking. People attending this short program (about two months) are introduced to new foods, nutrition, physical activity and skills needed to s-t-r-e-t-c-h the food dollar.
Change the Future staff and/or AmeriCorps members will be available to discuss programs that encourage life style changes to help in managing and/or preventing chronic conditions (hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes etc.) Adult onset diabetes is becoming more prevalent among the WV population and there is direct evidence that changing behavior patterns of eating and physical activity can prevent the development of diabetes.
WVU Extension Service provides educational service in agriculture, horticulture, natural resources, youth development, economic community development, and family and health topics. To learn more about WVU Extension Service, contact the Calhoun Office at 304-354-6332.
Please bring your garden tools and come join us for a morning of gardening and fun. Also, if anyone would like to donate gardening materials such as mulch, soil, or plant seedlings, donations may be dropped off at WVU Extension, Calhoun Health Department, or at the garden site.
More details to follow. If you are interested in participating or have questions, please call Janet Heiney, 354-6101; Daisy Fryman, 354-6332, or Billy Hamilton, 927-1480.
AmeriCorps engages West Virginians in solving community-identified issues through service. Members of this national service program meet the state's critical needs in the focus areas of education, disaster services, health, environmental stewardship, economic opportunity and service to veterans and military families.
AmeriCorps*State programs are supported in part by grants from Volunteer West Virginia, the state's Commission for National and Community Service as well as other public and private resources. Volunteer West Virginia is a division of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts. The agency encourages individuals to strengthen communities through service and volunteerism.
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