Her background as a teacher comes in handy in helping to develop the programs offered by Greener Partners. The group’s Farm Explorer program brings the gardens on wheels to schools to provide hands-on lessons about plants, local farming, and ways to eat healthy in every sea- son of the year. The mobile gardens (housed in trucks similar to food trucks) visit about 8,000 school kids every year. “Not every school can have a garden, so we bring the garden to the schools,” she says. “When you pull something from the ground, you are more curious. You want to see how it tastes.” Greener Partners also sponsors a teen leader- ship program to promote healthy eating among kids and their families. She remembers one student who took part in the program and learned how to grow and prepare fruits and vegetables. Ms. MacCurtin says he and his family changed their diets for the better and he helped his neigh- borhood by selling fresh fruits and vegetables. Meg MacCurtin Growing community health For Meg MacCurtin, it’s all about fruits and vegetables. Her goal is to get locally grown food into the hands of people who may not have a habit of eating berries, carrots, tomatoes, and other produce. Her organization, Greener Partners, has two “gardens on wheels” that visit local schools to teach students about growing food. The group also runs two gardens at hospitals and has started dozens of gardens at local schools. “I love to work with people. I really love fruits and vegetables. Making that connection for people and inspiring people to be healthy motivates me,” she says. Ms. MacCurtin began her career as an art teacher in Portland, Ore. During the summers, she vol- unteered on nearby farms and met a farmer who introduced her to community-supported agricul- ture, a way of bringing growers and consumers together to share the risks and benefits of farm- ing. She’s been working for Greener Partners for 10 years, first as education director and now as executive director. 16