San Diego County will offer free gardening classes as part of an initiative to improve health and combat obesity. The hope is for people to eat healthier by learning to grow their own fruits and vegetables and incorporate them into healthy meals.
San Diego County officials and community leaders announced the initiative at the Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center in National City -- one of the five sites chosen to offer classes starting in June. Director Amy Constensen said the center has only been open for a year, but already it's thriving.
San Diego health officials said a third of all school-aged children are overweight or obese. Cheryl Moder, director of the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative said the problem stems from neighborhoods surrounded by unhealthy choices.
“In most communities, it’s easier to buy an orange soda than it is to buy a bag of oranges," said Moder. "And it can be less expensive to purchase a fast food meal that’s laden with fat and calories than it is to buy the ingredients needed to buy a healthful meal at home."
The other garden and education centers sprouting around the county include: Solana Center in Encinitas; San Diego Youth Services at Spring Valley East Community Center; the International Rescue Committee locations in City Heights; and Wild Willow Farm and Education Center in South San Diego.
