Tag Archives: healthy

Poverty

Gardens in Impoverished Areas

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It’s crazy to think of getting all the essentials for living like groceries and toiletries from a local gas station, but when the local Kroger pulls out of the area, the gas station is all that’s left.

 

This is the situation for many people in parts of Terre Haute. The freshest fruits and veggies come from Circle K. Gas station produce is the reason Ryves Up! is making such a difference. By teaching children how to garden, they can bring those skills back to their families and eat healthier.

Community gardens are a great way to get people involved and making healthier food choices. They are extremely beneficial in big cities where large green patches to freely cultivate a personal garden do not exist. A study completed in New York City in 2008 found that many residents lack a sufficient amount of fresh food stores in their neighborhood area. Many people in NYC can’t afford enough food for each meal in the day, so they spend what they do have on unhealthy options because it’s the cheapest. 

Gardens like the one Ryves Up!, if placed near other low-income and at-risk areas across the country, can grow fresh food for those who are in need and can’t get out to garden. There are programs all over like “Plant a Row for the Hungry” that grow fresh produce and donate it to food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters. 

 

Please consider donating to Ryves Up! to help them further their reach to those in need in the Terre Haute area!

Gardening

How Does Gardening Benefit Children’s Lives

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We live in a digital world today, and there is a growing concern from parents that kids are spending more time in front of the screens. The Ryves Up! Program can help you with it. We provide children with more opportunities to get in touch with the nature. In this process, they will learn how to appreciate the beauty of different natural species and harvest foods through their own hard work.

Gardening has a lot of advantages for kids. It encourages children to eat healthier. Through their engagement on the fields, children would cherish the foods they grow, and frankly speaking, half the fun of gardening is being able to eat what you grow. It will help them better understand the importance of keeping a balanced diet. Obesity is a less possible problem for them, considering gardening an increase in their outdoor activities.

Kids love to play with mud. Normally, parents might think that there are lots of germs in the soil, so it releases kids in an environment full of germs and pathogens. But lack of childhood exposure to germs may actually raise their risks of getting diseases like asthma, allergies and autoimmune in their grown-up lives. So getting dirty while gardening may strengthen a child’s immunity and overall health.