Green Thumb’s Junior Gardeners Program Continues to Support Local Youth

By Kathleen Edge, Publicity & Website Chair

Green Thumb Garden Club’s Junior Gardeners Program was started in 1993. Four years ago, GTGC partnered with Butler Elementary School in Santa Rosa Beach to continue the program with fourth and fifth graders. For the 2024/2025 school year, Butler Elementary has 23 students in their Junior Gardeners Club.

The program started with two raised beds, but it was immediately apparent that two beds would be insufficient to support the overwhelming response from students and parents to participate in the Program. With support from Walton County, who supplied the labor and dirt, there are now six raised beds at the school.

The Junior Gardeners meet the second Wednesday of every month. GTGC has been very fortunate to have one dedicated teacher who has been willing to be at every meeting since the program inception. A Master Gardener member of the Green Thumb Garden Club volunteered to develop the classroom and planting syllabus. She, along with five to six additional GTGC members, supports the monthly classroom instruction and planting/harvesting activities.

Financial support comes from Club members and the community. The donations are used to purchase students’ gloves, tools, seeds and plants. The program’s success is because of the on-going commitment and collaboration between Walton County, Butler Elementary School, and dedicated members of the Green Thumb Garden Club. The Junior Gardener Program is a wonderful opportunity to teach young students the love of gardening and respect for the environment.

If you are interested in this program or other GTGC programs, Green Thumb Garden Club welcomes new members. The website www.greenthumbgardenclubinc.org contains detailed information about how to join the Club and details on meetings, activities, and events. For additional information, please visit the website or email greenthumbgardenclubinc@gmail.com. The Walton County community is encouraged to join Green Thumb Garden Club to support its charitable mission while connecting with other members and having fun.

Green Thumb Garden Club, Inc., located in Walton County, Florida, is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Its mission is to stimulate interest in the beautification of Walton County, furthering the education of its members and the public in botany, community beautification, conservation of natural resources, environmental awareness, floral design, gardening, horticulture, and nature studies and instill in our youth the love of gardening and respect for the environment.