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Elementary School Students Cultivate Growing Project In Community

HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. (CBS4)-Students at Heritage Elementary School are on the right track to leading a healthy lifestyle.

Earlier this month, they won the Fit 4 Colorado School Challenge, which encourages schools to develop programs that focus on healthy eating and exercise.

"We're bringing this so the kids understand the importance of nutritional choices," said Heritage Elementary School Principal Alam McQueen.

Saturday, students planted an educational garden on school grounds in Highlands Ranch. They teamed up with community volunteers for the Heritage Research Garden project. It was made possible thanks to a grant from Tri-County Health and other donors.

Students will learn how to plant herbs, vegetables, fruit shrubs and trees. They'll also learn what kind of conditions plants grow best in and where food comes from.

"The children will track what happens, total growth in the yield and the taste," said McQueen."It's also about learning about horticulture and teaching your kids how they can produce their own food."

"I think I'm going to want to start a garden after this because it's really fun," said one student.

"I think it's going to be good for the earth," said another student.

This summer, people in the community will take care of the garden. This fall, students will enjoy a special harvest in the school cafeteria where they will literally enjoy the fruits of their labor.

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