There is still time for third grade teachers to sign up for the Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program, which offers youngsters a chance to learn about gardening and earn scholarship money.
“The program engages children’s interest in agriculture, while teaching them not only the basics of gardening, but the importance of our food systems and growing our own,” says Stan Cope, President of Bonnie Plants. “This unique, innovative program exposes children to agriculture and demonstrates, through hands-on experience, where food comes from. The program also affords our youth with valuable life lessons in nurture, nature, responsibility, self-confidence and accomplishments.”
Bonnie Plants trucks free O.S. Cross, or “oversized” cabbage plants to third grade classrooms participating in the program. If nurtured and cared for, kids can grow green, giant cabbages, some as large as 40 pounds.
The program was launched in 2002 and awards a $1,000 scholarship to one student in each participating state. Teachers from each class select the student who has grown the “best” cabbage based on size and appearance. A picture is then submitted to Bonnie Plants. The winning student’s name is entered in a statewide drawing. The winners of each state’s drawing are randomly selected by the Commissioner of Agriculture’s office, state by state.
Bonnie Plants chose cabbage for this project because cabbages were the first plants sold by Bonnie in 1918. The cabbages used for the third grade program are known for producing giant, over-sized heads, making the process more exciting for children.
Teachers interested in registering their class can go to www.bonnieplants.com. Officials at Bonnie Plants say the website is in the process of being updated and schools in the North will have more time for registering. If a class is late in registering, they will automatically go to next season’s list.
