Michigan 4-H community gardens need your help!

Kea Norrell-Aitch<kea@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension -

Use your craftsmanship, creativity, and expert skills to create signs for three 4-H gardens across the state.

Michigan 4-H allows youth to explore a variety of project areas based on their interests. Many youth and volunteers are interested in gardening, plants, soil and crops. A number are also interested in healthy food options and increasing food security. As a result, there is an increase in community gardens in Michigan, especially in urban areas. To help support these interests and efforts, Michigan 4-H was fortunate to receive a grant from the Walmart Foundation. With the funds, the 4-H Healthy Habits program was able to provide mini-grants to Michigan counties and several used the grants for gardening programs.

Michigan 4-H healthy living supports three gardens that are managed by 4-H staff, volunteers and youth members. Two of the gardens are located in Macomb County and the other is located in Muskegon County. At this time, the gardens do not have any signage to explain the history, funding source or who they belong to. Michigan 4-H would like to acknowledge the Walmart Foundation and also the hard work of all its volunteers and members by establishing a sign for all current and future 4-H gardens. As a result, we are looking for help in creating garden signs for each 4-H garden across the state. 

Michigan 4-H is looking for individuals or clubs that might be interested in designing and creating permanent long-term signs for three youth gardens (perhaps more to come as well!). Our 4-H gardens were planted by youth and volunteers and we want to be able to inform the community about these excellent projects by having a sign for each of the gardens. If you would like to use your craftsmanship, creativity, and expert skills in helping to create signs – or if you know of anyone that might be interested – please reach out to the contact below.

Supplies and funding for this project are available through Michigan State University Extension’s Walmart Foundation – Michigan 4-H Healthy Habits grant. For more information, please contact Kea Norrell-Aitch at 586-469-6264 or knboyd@anr.msu.edu.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Did you find this article useful?

Find your spark with image of 4-H clover.

You Might Also Be Interested In

Tag List
  • 4-h,
  • 4-h food,
  • health & well-being,
  • healthy youth,
  • msu extension
Michigan State University
  • Spartans Will.
  • © Michigan State University

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential.

Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707.

We comply with the Federal Trade Commission 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).