Young Gardeners Sow the Seeds of Healthy Living

Novato (CBS 5) ― In the Garden of Eatin' in Novato, children may eat fruits and vegetables on any plant or tree.

They're the ones who plant the seeds, water the plants, watch them grow, and reap the harvest.

"It's good when you pick something, then wash your hands, and then eat it," four-year-old Cash Conners says shyly.

Children from infants to 12-year-olds learn first hand about healthy eating and nutrition from the Garden of Eatin' obesity prevention program.

It's at North Bay Children's Center, a 20-year-old child development program on the former Hamilton Air Force Base.

The seeds for the garden sprouted five years ago, when school director and co-founder Susan Gilmore brainstormed how to stop children's slide into obesity.

"According to the Center for Disease Control, one in three children born after 2001 will -- not may -- but will develop Type 2 diabetes if those trends continue and that's really alarming to me," Susan says.

Armed with a $150,000 government grant, Susan hired a nutritionist and gardening expert to plant the garden on the school's 8000 square foot patch. Her motto: when kids start early, healthy eating grows into a habit.

After all, she says, "You can't just put healthy fruits and vegetables on their plates and think they're going to eat them."

Many of the children, first time gardeners come from low income families. They're tasting dozens of varieties, from peaches to passion fruit and pomegranate.

Professional gardener David Haskell agrees with the kids, "Because it comes from the garden, because it's fresh, it's sweet and it's delicious."

And for the kids, the lessons learned in the garden take root at the table.

Four-year-old Lupelele Sogelau tells us her favorite food is broccoli!

Gary Markrack says his son Nathan has learned so much, he leads the family through the produce aisles.

"We go up and down the aisles. They're pointing. They say, 'I want this, this is the cucumber, this is the strawberry," Gary says.

Today, there are Gardens of Eatin' at nine North Bay campuses. While state funds, private foundations and individual donations cover the annual $130,000 operating costs, parents volunteer, too.

Susan is delighted with what she sees: "The children are actually teaching the parents about health and nutrition."

So for teaching thousands of young children to plant - and eat - the healthier alternative, this week's Jefferson Award in the Bay Area goes to Susan Gilmore.

By Sharon Chin

Related Link:

* North Bay Children's Center - Garden of Eatin'

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