Chelsea Raised Bed Garden

Chelsea has one of the highest rates of diabetes and obesity in the Northeast.  To try and help remedy this situation, the YLC of Chelsea Public High School is beginning to plant fruit, vegetables, and spices in a fallow raised bed garden down the street from the school.  With the help of local gardeners and collaboration with civic improvement groups in the areas ( ex. The Chelsea Collaborative), the YLC will chronicle the process of a seed growing into a vegetable that ends up on your plate.  The YLC is making a short 15-20 minute documentary narrated by the students about how to grow healthy foods in a local garden and then record a short cooking show about different healthy meals that can be made with the harvested food.  The video will then be uploaded on youtube and various other websites promoting the overall health of Chelsea, as well as on Chelsea public access television.  The project will bridge social gaps between organizations and as well as kids participating.  My YLC consists of students from all over the world, many of which are refuges from war torn African countries.  The garden gives the students opportunities to share their farming knowledge and techniques with other kids and promote valuable discourse between all involved.  The project will also show Chelsea residents that is possible and easy to grow their own food in their neighborhood and provides them with easy, healthy alternatives to unhealthy fast food chains that flood the area.