There is a little hidden gem at the Currituck Extension Office in Barco. It is our 4-H Community Garden located behind the building beside a pond. This garden was started years ago as a demonstration garden and outdoor classroom for youth activities. What is unusual about this garden is that it was built and maintained by kids.
Over the years, the garden has evolved and developed, and now includes a raised bed garden surrounded by a picket fence and it has a potting shed and out building. The garden is still used as an outdoor classroom for youth, providing a wonderful setting for plant science, foods and nutrition and gardening programs but now it also supports community service activities for the county. The fruits and vegetables grown in the garden are distributed to various places around the county – the senior center, Lower Currituck Food Bank, and the high school.
The garden also provides a work site for youth in the Community Service and Restitution program funded by the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council. The garden provides an exceptional and meaningful environment for youth to complete their community service hours. Their efforts not only go toward completing required hours, learning new skills, and the value of hard work, but also to enhance their community by growing and distributing fresh vegetables. It’s a win-win for everyone!
So, the next time you are at the Extension Office, check out the 4-H Community Garden.