Limestone College has enlisted help from four area schools in a community garden project aimed at cancer prevention.

Limestone recently received a $6,000 grant from the state Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). The college distributed $500 mini-grants Thursday afternoon to Gaffney High, Alma, Corinth and Mary Bramlett elementary schools.

The schools will use the grants to construct their own raised bed gardens. Students will plant their own gardens on the school grounds to learn about the process of growing fresh fruits and vegetables.

The community garden project was put together by Limestone College physical education professor Dr. Felicia Cavallini with the assistance of Clemson Extension Agent Alana West and the college’s maintenance department.

“Within the Cherokee County area, cancer is the second-leading cause of death,” Cavallini said. “Because adopting healthy eating behaviors can prevent and control cancer’s devastating effects, Limestone is constructing a community garden consisting of three raised garden beds that will be used for actual gardening and education.”

Limestone decided to further the impact of the gardening project by involving students in county schools in the project.

“For children specifically, community gardens create opportunities for children to learn more about nutrition and making healthier food choices, become more physically active and develop a stronger appreciation for the community,” Cavallini said.

Studies continue to show students leave school with limited interest in eating a healthy diet filled with fruits and vegetables.

Seventy-nine percent of South Carolina adults ate less than five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, according to a 2005 Behavioral Risk survey conducted by DHEC. The survey is conducted by state health officials biannually to help address health issues impacting the state’s residents.

“Community gardens provide a distinctive learning environment for local school students and folks in the community,” Cavallini said. “They also allow for a deeper appreciation of agriculture and better understanding of the importance of the local food system in the state.”

The Clemson Extension Agency and Limestone College will serve as a resource for the county schools as the grants are used to start their gardens this spring.