What: School gardens provide an outdoor classroom for nutrition and other learnings at area schools, but pandemic closures and social distancing took a toll, and many campus gardens have withered and died. Now, Fort Worth ISD’s Morningside Elementary—home to what some say was one of the city’s largest school gardens—is about to see new life. Volunteers from Blue Zones Project and Alcon, the Fort Worth-based leader in eye care will get their hands dirty rebuilding and renewing the school’s garden, in honor of Earth Month and National Garden Month. Alcon is providing gardening materials and equipment, and the Botanical Research Institute of Texas and the Tarrant Area Food Bank have donated seedlings (including tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant) for the project.

When: Friday, April 29, 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Morningside Elementary School, 2601 Evans Ave., Fort Worth

Visuals: Activities will include:

• Volunteers clearing out old garden beds and assembling new beds
• Planting seeds and plants, laying mulch, watering
• Painting river rocks to serve as markers for various plants

Why: According to research compiled by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, school gardens encourage children to eat fruits and vegetables, provide opportunities to get active, and promote better grades. Gardens are also linked to happier moods and interpersonal skills, lower rates of obesity, and healthier habits lasting into adulthood. With help from a host of community partners, Blue Zones Project currently supports 20 school gardens, most located in under-resourced communities with higher rates of obesity and chronic disease.

About Blue Zones Project Fort Worth: Blue Zones Project is a community-led well-being improvement initiative under the leadership of North Texas Healthy Communities, the nonprofit outreach arm of Texas Health Resources. Brought to Fort Worth in 2014, Blue Zones Project partners with businesses, schools, community leaders, and residents to support longer and better lives. More than 95,000 people and 367 groups and organizations have worked together to improve well-being. Fort Worth is the nation’s largest Blue Zones Community. Learn more at LiveLongFortWorth.com. 

About Alcon: Alcon helps people see brilliantly. As the global leader in eye care with a heritage spanning over 75 years, we offer the broadest portfolio of products to enhance sight and improve people’s lives. Our Surgical and Vision Care products touch the lives of more than 260 million people in over 140 countries each year living with conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and refractive errors. Our more than 24,000 associates are enhancing the quality of life through innovative products, partnerships with Eye Care Professionals and programs that advance access to quality eye care. Learn more at www.alcon.com.