New Miami Garden Club

HUGS believes that school gardens can encourage community engagement by involving students, parents, and teachers in
collaborative gardening efforts. This holistic approach helps children learn where food comes from and builds
foundational knowledge for making healthier food choices that can last a lifetime. HUGS works to combat
health disparities through education and access to nutritious foods, especially in underserved communities. Through the USDA Farm to School Planning Grant received in 2023, HUGS has built 2 courtyard gardens at the New Miami School District and participated in both traditional and hydroponic gardening with the students. 16 hydroponic towers were also placed in 8 other local schools. Hydroponic towers involve growing produce using nutrient rich water rather than soil. This summer, HUGS has participated in Garden Club with students at New Miami elementary school. Students have gotten to help with the gardening, complete garden-related projects, and do taste testing using fresh fruits and vegetables from the garden. Here are a few photos from New Miami’s gardening this summer! They show students painting their “dream garden” and doing a salad taste testing as well as a recent harvest from their gardens.