During a special education event held in April, Brunswick County Master Gardeners helped teach youth at Supply Elementary School about growing things. Supply is the only Brunswick County school to receive a U.S. Department of Agriculture Fresh Fruit and Vegetables grant, designed to introduce students to fresh fruits and vegetables. Brunswick's North Carolina Cooperative Extension Center provided education for the program, combining the efforts of 4-H, family and consumer sciences and Master Gardeners.

"Extension has been involved from the beginning," said Susan Morgan, family and consumer sciences agent in Brunswick County. "The success of this program has been that it involved students, parents, teachers and a number of volunteers who reinforced or enhanced the classroom activities and instruction."

A total of 669 students, 55 teachers and staff members and more than 30 volunteers were involved in three outdoor workshops, led by Brunswick Master Gardeners. One session provided was a truly hands-on opportunity for students to see a worm bin, where earthworms aerate soil. Students also learned about recycling kitchen wastes through composting, and everyone got to plant a tomato seedling to take home and replant.

- Natalie Hampton