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Port Arthur health department opens Grow With Me community garden to teach gardening and nutrition
Summary
The city health department and WIC staff unveiled the Grow With Me community garden behind the health department, offering classes, volunteer days and a monthly farmers market to promote healthy eating and food access.
City of Port Arthur health department staff presented the new Grow With Me Community Garden at the March 18 City Council meeting and invited council and residents to volunteer and participate.
The program, coordinated by the health department’s WIC team and supported by SNAP-Ed and local partners, uses hands-on gardening and nutrition education to encourage healthy eating and active lifestyles. Staff said the garden sits behind the Port Arthur Health Department and now includes 40 raised beds, more than 20 cedar beds and a new garden building.
Why it matters: Health staff said the garden targets low-income families but is open to all residents. Staff cited national and state data on food advertising and nutrition, and local tourism and recreation figures were offered by the city’s tourism director to underline the economic importance of fishing and birding while framing the garden’s educational role.
Program details and calendar: Weekly classes run every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m., and once monthly at 4 p.m.; the garden will host a volunteer day Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Staff plan a monthly farmers market at the garden with free gardening and nutrition classes during market hours. The SNAP-Ed program provides curriculum and the garden uses QR codes at beds to share recipes, tips and videos.
Community partnerships and next steps: Partners listed include AgriLife at Jefferson County (Master Gardener training), Port Arthur Public Library, Port Arthur ISD, local beautification and public health advisory boards. Staff said they will continue to recruit advisory board members and volunteers and plan a paint-by-numbers mural fence and a rock garden with community-painted stones.
Ending: Council members praised the effort and urged cross-promotion with local colleges, homeschool groups and beautification volunteers. The WIC team distributed small rosemary/thyme seedlings to councilmembers as a community-engagement gesture and invited the public to upcoming volunteer and market days.
