What started as an unused tennis court is now an thriving garden oasis in the middle of Green Cove Springs, Florida thanks to the dedication of the Master Gardener Volunteers with the University of Florida/IFAS Clay County Extension along with the hard work of staff and students at R.C. Bannerman Learning Center.
Bannerman Learning Center is an alternative program for students with differing educational needs in Green Cove Springs Florida for almost twenty years and this partnership continues to expand. The approximately 2 acre garden area is home to a greenhouse, vegetable gardens, fish pond, ornamental beds, orchard, and even hydroponics. Currently, volunteers work weekly with the students in agricultural classes but in the past it has been used to teach a variety of subjects including math, science, and carpentry while also serving as a calm space where staff can meet and talk with students.
This garden targets two major needs of Clay County. First, many residents in Clay County struggle with access to healthy food. According to the community health assessment, 9.3% receiving a form of government food assistance and only 12% living within ½ mile of a healthy food source. This group includes the youth that participate within school horticulture programs, especially those at R.C. Bannerman Learning Center. At the school, students learn to grow their own food and volunteers also work to educate students on eating produce from the gardens that they may not have normally eaten such as mulberries, eggplant, radishes, and more. Additionally, administration and teachers have shared with us that for many students the Master Gardener Volunteers provide a vital opportunity for youth to learn to build relationships and work alongside adults while also developing life skills such as hard work and perseverance. This manifests itself each year when students also grow and care for their own show plant at the Clay County Agricultural Fair, receiving many awards to reward them for their hard work.
I think the impact of this program can be best told by the essay below by one of the students:
“Have you ever been to the Bannerman school garden? As you enter, you are greeted with a beautiful, overhanging mulberry tree that stretches over the pathway. Master Gardeners maintain this calming, engaging and interactive space. As someone who personally struggles with food insecurities, I appreciate having a separate space to “munch on” some healthy and natural fruits and veggies. Some people don’t quite understand the importance of growing your own food; here at Bannerman they prepare you for the real world. In the case of a low-income student not having enough to eat at home, they can come here to the garden, and learn how to grow their own food. Here at the garden, you learn something new everytime you visit; whether its just simply a fun fact, or a real world skill.”
Her story shows the impact that UF/IFAS Extension Volunteers and faculty can have on our youth and community. Over the past 10 years, volunteers have provided over 5,000 hours of service to this project and have secured over $20,000 in grant and in-kind donations to help improve and expand the offerings to the students.
For more information about this program, including becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer, or our other Extension programs such as 4-H, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Financial Training and Planning, or Health and Nutrition, please call (904)284-6355 or email IF-SVC-Clay@ufl.edu.
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