American Samoa Community College

Caption: CNR Agricultural Extension Agent Alfred Peters (far right) joins ASCC ECE faculty and students to clebrate the first harvest of vegetable from their new garden. (Photo: J. Kneubuhl)	ASCC/CNR Cultivates Farmers of the Future
	November 3 , 2006 James Kneubuhl, ASCC Press Officer


	This past Thursday morning, the students and staff at the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) enjoyed the first harvest of fresh vegetables from a small garden installed adjacent to their building by the College’s Community & Natural Resources Division (CNR). The occasion marked a small but significant first step in the efforts of both ASCC divisions to change nutritional trends in American Samoa. The garden’s success, a result of the close working relationship between the ASCC ECE and the CNR Agriculture Extension Program, will hopefully encourage other ECE schools in the Territory to establish their own vegetable growing projects.
“Officials at the School Lunch Program have noticed that more and more often the students leave the vegetables on their plates untouched,” explained CNR Agricultural Extension Agent Alfred Peters. “With this project, we want to give the students an early appreciation of how vegetables grow and how eating them regularly helps keep you healthy.” To put the plan into motion, Peters enlisted the help of the parents of the ASCC ECE students, who helped construct five boxed-in plots for vegetable growing in the area adjacent to the ECE playground. In September, the parents planted cabbage seedlings in three of the plots, with green onions in another, and green peppers in the last. Since then, the ECE students have kept an eye on the rapid growth of the cabbage, which has reached maturity in less than two months. Peters, who regularly visits classrooms all over American Samoa to talk about farming and the health benefits of fresh vegetables, hopes that other ECE, elementary and high schools in the Territory will follow the example of the ASCC ECE mini-farm and establish similar models on their own campuses. “A lot of kids today associate vegetables with something that only comes out of a can or frozen in a box,” he says. “With these small gardens, they can participate in the whole process of food production, from putting the seeds in the ground to putting the fruits of their labor on their plate. They not only learn a process, but they also get a sense of accomplishment and an appreciation of where food comes from.” Peters added that a project such as this reflects both ASCC President Dr. Adele Satele-Galea’i’s goal of combining learning with community service, and CNR Director Tapa’au Dr. Daniel Mageo Aga’s vision of the organization promoting a healthy and well-nourished American Samoa population. The harvesting activities will continue on a regular basis at the ASCC ECE as the rest of the cabbage gets picked over the next two weeks and the green onions and bell peppers reach maturity later this month. For advice on starting your own garden, call CNR at 699-1575 and ask for Agricultural Extension Administrative Officer Helen Lago. ASCC ECE faculty and students celebrate the first harvest of vegetables from the new garden adjacent to their classroom. (Photo: J. Kneubuhl) <<< Back to Other News & Events