Houston Grows

Urban Harvest teaches classes, features a farmers market, and creates gardens in schools and communities throughout the city.

Urban Harvest's After School Program
Photography Meg McKinney

Urban Harvest's After School Program

Sweet potatoes are among the best teachers for schoolchildren who think food begins in the frozen food aisle at the grocery store. Youngsters plant the potatoes in spring and return to harvest them when school starts in fall, while learning that soil, sun, rain, and time grow good things to eat.

Carol Burton and Michael Godoy oversee Urban Harvest’s After School Program in 19 Houston schools. More than just digging in the dirt, garden activities combine math, science, nutrition, exercise, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Kids and parents love it.

“At the farmers market, a parent came up to me and said, ‘I thought this was a nothing program, but it has been the best thing for my child. It’s the only thing she wants to talk about when she gets home,’ ” Carol says.

NextGreening Vacant Lots

Sweet Potato Teachers

Previous Slide Sweet Potato Teachers

3 of 6
Urban Harvest's After School Program

  • Loading comments...

Add your comment

The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. An asterisk * indicates a required field.

500 characters remaining

More Ways To Get Southern Living

Advertisement

MOST POPULAR
1
86 Top-Rated Desserts

This luscious collection of desserts was chosen by you! They're so delicious you'll definitely be tempted to eat dessert first.

Caramelized Banana Pudding