Educate You declares war on childhood obesity
This year, the Charleston Parks Conservancy declares war on childhood obesity! Join this battle and plant a Victory Garden (victory for healthy living, that is!)
Certainly, this is national problem but our state and region aren’t immune to the effect. Check out these stats from the S.C. Department of Health & Environmental Control:
– More than 25 percent of high school students are overweight or obese.
– More than 85 percent of high school students do not eat the recommended daily allowances of fruits and vegetables.
And unhealthy children become unhealthy adults. More than half of adults in Charleston County and 70 percent of those in Berkeley County are overweight or obese. In fact, obesity cost South Carolina $1.2 billion in 2010, with projected expenditures reaching $1,505 per adult by 2018.
As a move to healthy living, consider planting a vegetable garden this year. Gardening is one of a few hobbies that improves your health while saving you money. Gardening burns about 270 calories per hour and improves your endurance, strength and flexibility. Gardeners, particular child gardeners, tend to eat a wider variety of vegetables than non-gardeners. (I’ve seen this in action at our math garden at Porter Gaud School. My kale plant was devoured by ravenous Lilliputians before I had time to tell them to stop! ) And according to the venerable W. Atlee Burpee Seed Co., money spent on a garden comes with a cost savings ratio of 1:25. So get gardening, Charleston. We’ll show you how to start.
– Vegetable Gardening for Beginners, James Island, Sat., March 3, 9am to 12pm
– Gardening in Small Spaces Demonstration, Etiwan Park, Wed., March 14, 12pm to 12:30pm. (No registration required for this class)
– Grow Your Own Fruit and Berries, James Island, Sat. March 17, 9am to 12pm
– Grow Native Plants, James Island, Sat., March 24, 9am to 12 pm
– Garden Design, Consecutive Tuesdays. April 3-17, 6pm to 8pm