The Grow Healthy Kids school garden program is an initiative to improve children’s poor eating habits, to correct the chronic problem of childhood obesity and diabetes and to encourage children to protect the environment and to be good stewards of the Earth.

This unique program addresses the health of school age children through hands on gardening activities, nutrition and environmental education. Participating children are introduced to organic gardening and healthier eating and lifestyle choices. Eating eating foods grown organically enhances the health of the individual and the world we live in because they are grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and genetically modified seeds.

This program is possible by the partnership with Clemson Cooperative Extension Service, GOFO and several Elementary Schools of Greenville County and thanks to the financial support of local businesses, foundations and donations from individuals.

Screenings aim to increase awareness of environmental and food related critical issues and to present sustainable solutions to the community. The series is back each year on Thursday evenings during the month of  February.

Refreshments @ 5:30 pm   -  Film starts @ 6:00 pm with discussion afterwards
Location: Greenville Technical College - Barton Campus - Building 102
506 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC 29607

SIGN UP HERE  (Recommended but NOT required): 

 http://flicksforthought.eventbrite.com

Featured films
February 7th - HUNGRY FOR CHANGE
Discussion with guest speaker : Keri Moore, Whole Foods Market
February 14th - VANISHING OF THE BEES
Discussion with guest speaker: Buddy May, May Farms LLC
February 21st - COMMUNITY OF GARDENERS
Discussion with guest speaker: Reece Lyerly, Gardening for Good
February 28th - GENETIC ROULETTE
Discussion with guest speaker: Sriyani Rajapakse, Greenville Tech College

This program provides educational opportunities for members to learn about growing vegetables by organic and sustainable practices. Under the advice of ecological Master Gardener, Eliza Holcombe, who meets with members for Q & A session on the last Sunday of the month. members learn through hands-on weekly garden tasks the ins and outs of organic gardening.
Members enjoy the benefits of taking produce home weekly and are encouraged to attend social pot luck dinners every other month hosted by one of the members. The garden is located in the North Main neighborhood. It has 12 raised beds, compost site, drip irrigation and a tool shed. Membership is limited to 14 family members.

Members are assigned one day of the week to work in the garden. Membership runs from Jan – June and July – Dec and cost is $150 per membership cycle.

The fantastic event featured examples of city residents who are growing food in the urban setting and implementing energy efficiency solutions. These residents are making city living more sustainable are willing to teach others to do the same.

Local urban farmers are weaving rural elements in to their lives with such things as laying hens in the backyard, bee hives, landscaping with edible vegetables, herbs and flowers and implementing energy efficiency techniques that make living more sustainable. The urban farm movement is exploding across the nation as consumers choose to grow their own produce and buy locally as a way of ensuring healthier food and endorsing higher environmental standards.

The urban farming movement is reconnecting people to where food comes from while bringing affordable access to healthier food. When family members, friends and neighbors grow food together they save money, get physical exercise, create a supportive network and eat healthier.

Check out the UFT website for more information on the event!

Chef Alyn Abrams who is enthusiastic about supporting local and sustainable ways of eating has created a class that combines the greatness of Soul-food and Sustainability. 

Our cooking classes menu are always sourced from local and organic farmers. Participants enjoy a scrumptious seasonal dinner menu prepared specially by Chef Alyn Abrams, program director for Foxfire Gallery and Kitchen Shops.

 MENU (from last year's class)
* Sauteed Shrimp & Swiss Chard tossed with Spaghetti Squash
* Quinoa & Sausage stuffed Pork Loin over spicy Braised Mixed Greens
* Figs with Honey, Mascarpone and Blueberry Whip

All proceeds benefit GOFO programs. We are thankful for the support of  individuals like you and local business like Foxfire Kitchen Gallery Shops and Whole Foods Market.

Wanna be an organic farmer for a day?

GOFO offers a hands-on one-day experience at a local organic farm. Participants learn about organic farming, meet the farmers, tour the facility, work in the field planting and harvesting. They also attend a workshop lead by the farmer, and sit down to eat a sumptuous lunch prepared with fresh farm produce and meat products by our contributor Chef Heather Kalka.


In the past three participants have spent the day at the following organic farms: