Have you seen our Harvest Healthy Habits billboards? They're on both sides of Route 17 near Bolivia.

The billboards are part of our Steps to Health Program from NC State and N.C. Cooperative Extension. They showcase the benefits of local foods, farmer’s markets and farmers. Local foods can help us save money, increase our nutrition and enjoy more flavor. As part of this program, here in Brunswick County, Extension Agents Avery Ashley, Taylor McDaniel and Jamie Lester have been working with 3rd grade students at Virginia Williamson Elementary School in a school garden project.

This Steps to Health Program helps show kids where foods come from--not just the grocery store. This garden allow kids to see vegetables grow from seed to harvest. When they share this with their friends and families everyone connects to local food. The garden project is expanding throughout Brunswick County. New gardens will start this fall at Bolivia Elementary and Cedar Grove Middle Schools. As part of Harvest Healthy Habits, there is also a garden at the Supply Senior Center and a Seed Library at the Barbee Library on Oak Island.

The next time you see one of these billboards when traveling on Route 17...think about how you can harvest some healthy habits by enjoying some fresh local foods. Steps to Health would like to know if you’ve seen these billboards. Taking this quick, four question survey helps the Steps to Health team measure their outreach efforts.

Please feel free to take the survey by scanning the QR code or visiting the survey link.

Syracuse is a Family and Consumer Science team member and can be reached at N.C. Cooperative Extension, Brunswick County Center 910-253-2610 or by email at
clsyracu@ncsu.edu