In accord with Lake Worth Middle School resident mama duck leading her chicks, Choice program instructor Mrs. Marta Galvez, and Joseph P Cory Foundation’s founder Nada Cory, mentored students through their new Gardens of Hope (GOH) buildout.
Everyone was present on December 9, 2023: Mind-Body-Spirit. Particularly for these soon-to-become healthcare professionals, desiring to influence health outcomes professionally. One function of GOH is to offer an additional component to Allopathic medicine, by understanding the advantages of herbal remedies. (Note our student with a handful of aloe, a plant recommended for burns and other issues.)
Students filtered in during the day, getting “safety first” talks, protective gear, instructions, and the final coveted “community service” certificate. Plenty of water and snacks helped everyone “plow” through. No job was too small for this group, and the playing field was equaled, whether it be a principal, teacher, student, or contractor. The final reward, rebuilt and new garden beds, waiting for soil and planting to begin. One final obstacle… the iguanas, a new “friend” to south Florida gardeners. Protective cages for the plants are underway, so both flora and fauna may be coexistent at the school.
Many thanks to all who volunteered their time, talent, and treasure. The Joseph P Cory Foundation donated this garden to Mrs. Galvez, in conjunction with a study they are conducting on BMI and “Gardens of Hope”. Classes featuring their GOH curricula have already been ongoing since the beginning of the school term, and everyone is really looking forward to the organic herbs and vegetables they will be growing, eating, cooking, and utilizing, for the remainder of the school year.
Aloe: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318591#:~:text=It%20has%20antioxidant%20and%20antibacterial%20properties&text=These%20polyphenols%2C%20along%20with%20several,%2C%20antiviral%2C%20and%20antiseptic%20properties.
BMI Study: https://josephpcoryfoundation.org/2023/09/gardens-of-hope-bmi-project/
