In the dead of winter gardening might be the last thing on your mind.
But the Extension Office at South Dakota State University is asking residents to think spring and to donate vegetable seeds that can be used in educational gardens around the state.
Chris Zdorovtsov is with the SDSU Extension office. She says school gardens that target young people are seeing a big spike in popularity.
She says many schools around the state now have gardens but some can use help in acquiring quality vegetable seeds.
“It’s just another approach to teaching. You can incorporate many different subject areas you know science is an obvious one. But, tying in the nutrition piece, you can tie in math, history you can tie so many different topics into a garden. So, it’s that outdoor classroom is really what it is,” says Zdorovtsov.
Zdorovtsov says the SDSU Extension office is looking for unopened seed packets less than a year old to ensure schools are getting the highest quality seeds for students to plant.
If you are interested in receiving donated seeds or in making a donation, please call the SDSU Extension Regional Center in Sioux Falls after Jan. 14 for an application. Please contact Chris Zdorovtsov, Community Development Field Specialist, at 605-782-3290 or at [email protected] for more information.