WORCESTER — Director of programs Grace Sliwoski led dozens of area preschool students around the Regional Environmental Council’s YouthGROW farm Tuesday morning, tucked away at 63 Oread St.
As preschoolers squatted down and examined vegetables growing in the ground, Sliwoski explained the importance of organic, locally sourced food.
“Getting kids outside is incredibly important, but also the heart of a lot of our work is we want people to understand where their food comes from,” Sliwoski said. “We want kids, at the earliest possible age, to understand how food is grown, where it’s coming from and get them excited about trying different foods.”
After receiving funding from the United Way of Central Massachusetts, the REC began a program hosting preschool students enrolled in the Worcester Head Start program and Worcester Public Schools as part of the organization’s School Garden programming. The School Garden’s Farm to Early Childhood Project provides curriculum, garden support and enrichment activities for preschool partners and head starts in Worcester.