Veggie Blog

The video was very good.  The best part was the bloopers.  Lots of people liked it.  We got lots of comments.  This one man asked if we would be interested in starting a garden with his 7th grade class.  I think it would be a good idea.  - Love, Scrawberry

I like how our presentation talked about the market.  The market is good for people, so they dont have to ride the bus.  I think I should help more, maybe that will make more customers.  - Love, DeLimey

I really like the video.  My favorite parts were the pictures and the bloopers.  I think starting a garden with the 7th graders is a great idea, that way we can meet new kids and also tell them about what we do at the market.  It is also a great idea that we should start gardens all around Nashville, that way Nashville will be a healthy city and could one day be the USA’s most healthy city, or even the World’s. - Braceberry

The Vine Hill group touring the gardens.

The boys leading the way…

The girls relaxing by the fountain.

Last week the Youth Leader Board at Vine Hill presented a “Veggie” video at the Food Security Partners meeting. It was a great opportunity to let the community know about what we have been doing all summer at the Veggie Project.

Here is the link to the video on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/v/IBhRp7wf1r4

Day for Kids: Celebrating Healthy Kids!

What?  This summer the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee have teamed up to improve the health and wellness of the youth, families and community members surrounding the Boys & Girls Clubs in Nashville through an initiative called The Veggie Project.  The Veggie Project aims to address issues of childhood obesity, family nutrition and food security issues in underserved communities.  In collaboration with Nashville Urban Harvest, the project has provided a veggie market to each community one day per week to improve food access opportunities.  The markets are lead by a group of youth from each Boys & Girls Club and financial assistance has been provided to some youth, family members and community members.  This event will feature fun, interactive and nutritionally educational activities, games, food and events to celebrate the health and wellness of the Boys & Girls Club youth! 

Who?  This is a free event for all of the youth, families, community members and staff of the Boys & Girls Clubs as well as the staff and families of the Veggie Project

When? Friday, August 1, 2008 2-6:00 p.m.

Where? Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park – Amphitheatre; Entrance off of 6^th Avenue

This is a FREE event!

“Why do we have the Veggie Market? We have it, because if someone is very old or can’t drive, they can go across the street and buy fruits. It helps the community. What do we do? We sell fruits and vegetables for prices cheaper than he grocery store. We help the people who are old or disabled. Why do we have the youth leader board? We have the youth leader board so we can help sell vegetables and so we can teach younger people to be healthy and how to start our own veggie market. “–Chocolate Cherry Star

“We have the market because some people can’t get a good supply of veggies, and it needs to be cheap so people become healthy, and it’s helpful for our Boys and Girls Club too. We have a lot of choices as well. The reason we have the youth leader board is because we wish to have our own veggie market since they are only here for 10 weeks. We don’t just sell, we also learn about being healthy and all about the foods we sell.” -DeBanana

“Why we have the market is because if people need a store, and they have to go a distance, it is easier for them to get to come fruits and veggies, it is just right around the corner at the Boys and Girls Club. Why we have the Youth Leader Board is because one day we might get to run our own veggie market. Or to teach the younger groups about being healthy and active. I love it because I am on the Youth Leader Board.” –Hungry Carrot

The veggie market is helping my community because lots of people in my community need a good market for not alot of money.  The market offers fresh fruits and veggies and they dont have to go far to get it.  I would recommend the market for everyone.  - Scrawberry
 

I like helping out at the market because we do fun and interesting things.  The most thing I like doing at the market is when I get to bag the fruits and veggies for the customers and doing the reseats.  I really love the veggie market. -Queen Banana
 

The veggie and fruits market is the best place to go to.  The prices are low, the fruits are juicy.  The fruits and veggies are more fresh than H.G.Hills or Krogers.  The counselors support us.  They help us sell the fruits and veggies.  I get happy every time.  The fieldtrips are awesome.  - Cucumbarrius

Having fun and selling veggies even through the rain storms!
Cherry Curl, Antomato, Braceberry, and JBerry enjoying their fieldtrip to the Nashville Urban Harvest Garden!

JBerry working hard on his tomato plant so that it is ready to take home. 
Orage_U_Happy, Braceberry, and Scrawberry having fun while working at the market!

Tangerine Queen:
“I think our new location is better because we have more customers, it’s in the shade, and we sold out of 4 things. We really improved in the new location. I think I have been a very good worker. I also think we need to improve with getting people more involved and interested”.

A remark from Soulja Veggie:

See what the kids are talking about…

Hi my code name is blackberry. I live with my mom, dad and my sister. I go to Middle School. I have a kinda big house. I really like the vegie market because I learn about all kinds of vegies. The vegie market is all about vegtiables and stuff. There is one thing that I know what you can eat for a snack. It is called ants on a log. It has celery, peanut butter, and raisins. It is very good.

I am Watermelon Boy. My favorite fruit is watermelon. I’m from Nashville, Tennessee. Basketball is my favorite sport. My family is big. They live around the U.S. When I get older I want to go to the NBA. I love the Veggie Mart. My favorite job is the receipt job. The fruit and vegetables are good. I look forward to helping the Veggie Market every week. I would want to do the receipt job forever.

Hey my name is Strawberries. The things I learned from Veggie Market is that you need to eat more fruits and veggies more than snacky food. You need say very healthy and say in shape. I was born and raise in Nashville but I always wanted to go to other places and stuff but same its borning.

Wat up, my name is Cherry. I am 12 years old. I am going to the seventh grade. I also go to Middle School. The reason why I like veggie market is because we get to help people, do fun things, and go on trips.

My name is Cherryman. My favorite sports are basketball, football, and soccer. My favorite food is pizza. I am 10 years old. I was born in Boston, Massachutess of the year 1997. My favorite rap artist is Jay-Z. My name is Cherryman becuase I love cherries SO much! I love the Veggie Market and I especially love being the reciept person. The fruit and vegetables have a unique taste. I know I want to do that job again very much.

Hi! I’m Cheesey Tomato and I really love bananas, cheese, and of course tomatos! My favorite colors are red + black + purple. I love to play football, soccer, and video games. I really like the games guitar hero I, II, and III. My favorite animal is definetly a polar bear. I think the market is awesome! It’s so fun and it helps trainus in buisness and people skills wich you really need besides most of the fruits and veggies are so good I buy some myself. I think this is a great program.

Hellow, my name is Baby Goblen and the reason I joined the veggie market is to get healthyer and in shape. I like to eat fruit like peaches, apples, grapes, oranges, kiwis, plums, and grapefruit.

Some other pictures from our most recent markets…

“The Andrew Jackson kids took a field trip to Nashville Urban Harvest. It was amazing what can grow in such an industrial area!”

“Hungry Carrot, Q-Dogg, and Banana Pepper trying new vegetables. I think they were a little spicy!”

“They also tried (and loved!) some cucumbers!”

“Sarah from NUH taught all the kids how to plant their own tomato seedling.”

“Chocolate Cherry and the boys with their new tomato plants. Looks like they did a great job!”“If you think the garden looks cool and want to help out, please go to nashvilleurbanharvest.org for more information. See you at the markets!” -Apple Bottom Jeans (Boots with the Fur)

“Hello, this is Miss Pincumber if I would ask question about the market I would ask: Are a Super Shopper and why. And why did you choose to come to the Veggie Market ad what kind of fruits and veggies do you like. My maine goal is to eat more veggies before the veggie market end and have fun and stop eating hot cheetos”.