Merry Christmas!

Paradise greetings,

Yesterday I stopped by one of the Boys and Girls Clubhouses with a new tomato plant for the garden. Just a small group of kids were there for the day. One girl, who has missed many of the Fridays (our usual afternoon for Growing Healthy Kids), was there for the day so she was glad to help me get the new plant tucked into its new home.

While she and I worked side by side, she told me about the tomato plant she took home several months ago when Growing Healthy Kids made container gardens in recycled one gallon jugs. She told me about the tomatoes she and her mom have been eating from it!

Then she shared about the farm her grandmother used to have and her voice sparkled with excitement!

She and I talked about things she can make with her own tomatoes. She is an amazing child, so full of life and possibilities! I am honored to know her and look forward to being able to give her more Growing Healthy Kids gifts in January!

As we gather tonight and tomorrow to celebrate Christmas together, enjoy the gift of life that has been given to each of us. I am so thankful for my family and friends. I am grateful for the joy that Growing Healthy Kids is bringing to children served by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Indian River County and by Youth Guidance Mentoring & Activities Program and am excited about the possibilities that are coming! What are YOU thankful for?

Growing Healthy Kids is here to improve the health - and lives - of children, one garden and one child at a time.

Merry Christmas to all!

Nancy Heinrich

Founder, Growing Healthy Kids

Missing: One Cinnamon Basil Plant

Paradise greetings,

Here's the update on the first kayak garden in Indian River County. I stopped by Kayaks Etc. the other day to see Kristen Beck and check out the herb garden that the kids from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Indian River County planted. The first thing Kristen said to me was, "Someone stole the cinnamon basil -- the WHOLE PLANT!" Sure enough, someone dug it out of the kayak garden.

So, I need your help: BOLO (that's police talk for Be On the Look Out) for one beautiful, fragrant cinnamon basil plant.

The kayak garden is looking good! Kristen has already harvested lettuce, basil and cilantro. The beans will be coming next.

What I love about the kayak garden is that every northbound car on US 1 driving through Vero Beach sees it and it may plant a seed with those who see it about gardening for fun, recycling things you don't normally recycle (like old kayaks) and creating garden art wherever we are.

Now, off to find Kristen a new cinnamon basil plant!

Growing Healthy Kids - improving the health - and lives - of kids, one garden and one child at a time.

To your perfect health,

Nancy Heinrich

Founder, Growing Healthy Kids

Growing Healthy Kids makes Fresh Garden Salsa

Paradise greetings,

What a week! We had lots of liquid sunshine to water the gardens. The gardens we planted on October 13 are full of tomatoes and fresh basil.

At the Sebastian Boys and Girls Club there was a Christmas party for the kids. Growing Healthy Kids made Fresh Garden Salsa to go with corn chips. Let me know if you want the recipe!

The kids who have been taking care of the gardens and going kayaking signed their names on the Growing Healthy Kids mini-herb garden container that we presented to the club director at the party. The minigarden was filled with parsley, basil, and rosemary. He told us that every Sunday he makes a dish with rosemary, so we know his new minigarden will be well taken care of and put to good - and tasty - use! Several of the kids who took home their new minigardens last week told me that the seeds are sprouting already! I love living in the tropics and growing fun stuff to eat!

At the south county clubhouse this week, we finished the minigardens (after painting clay pots last week) and planted them with basil, parsley, and cilantro seeds. The kids took them home with instructions for taking care of their new gardens. We had some healthy snacks - almond butter on whole grain crackers and yellow delicious apple slices. One girl bypassed the crackers and created her own healthy treat by putting the almond butter on the apple slices. Yum!

My observation from bringing healthy snacks to each week's Growing Healthy Kids program to the Boys and Girls Clubs is that kids LOVE to eat healthy - when given the choice. Problem is, they don't always get to choose. That's one thing that Growing Healthy Kids is doing - giving kids healthier choices that are economical and easy.

What's YOUR favorite snack that includes a fruit or vegetable?? Send me your snack idea and we'll "kick the tires" at the next Growing Healthy Kids class.

Today's picture: Fresh Garden Salsa. Pretty good choice of colors for the season, don't you agree?

Thank you to the Vero Beach Kiwanis Club and to the Florida Kiwanis Foundation for your support of Growing Healthy Kids. Together, we are making a difference - and having fun!

Growing Healthy Kids - improving the healthy - and lives - of children, one garden and one child at a time.

To your perfect health,

Nancy Heinrich

Founder, Growing Healthy Kids