The Franklin County Soil Conservation District gave a demonstration for the Penn Foundation students on Friday, June 10, 2016 at Decherd Elementary School. At this demonstration, the District members taught the children about soil conservation and how plants grow and help to encourage them to do their own vegetable gardens. Karen Stewart, SCD Secretary, talked to the students about the importance of vegetables gardens and the different varieties of gardens.

The raised beds were planted earlier in the season with tomatoes, squash, zucchini, bell peppers, cucumbers and green beans. The children that attended were able to see what each plant looks like, how it develops and see examples of what the vegetables look like at maturity. Kevin Edge, Soil Conservationist, NRCS, spoke to the students about how soil is made and how everything we need to live comes from the soil. He then cut open a green pepper to show the students how each vegetable makes its own seed to enable us to grow more vegetables in the future. He also instilled in the students the need to get involved in growing some of their own food.

Students received hands on practice of pulling weeds and watering their plants then tasted samples of the veggies that were planted in the raised beds. John Ingle, Soil Conservation Technician, also helped demonstrate the need for caring for the soil. There were 72 children from local schools that were in attendance.