Cave City police department sprouts a new opportunity

CAVE CITY Ky.- Students at Caverna Elementary were given the chance to not only grow their own produce, but to grow in their education thanks to a relationship between the school and the Cave City Police Department.

The school and police department have created a community garden. Students in third, fourth and fifth grades came out to get their hands dirty with their own gardening. Caverna Elementary principal Tina Southwood explained some of the educational growth the students will take from this.

“The exposure to understanding. I didn’t grow up on a farm myself. I had friends who did. I think it just gives you more awareness of where our food comes from, and the importance of being able to grow your own garden,” Southwood said.

Caverna Elementary school resource officer Joey Judd, with Cave City Police said this experience has received good reception from the students and provides a fun hands-on project.

“Several of them come to me and they’re ready to get their hands dirty. They’re asking, ‘what are we going to plant?’ I’ve had several come up to me today and ask when we’ll be going to the garden. They’re very excited and I’m excited for them,” Judd said.

Not only will the garden make an educational impact on the students, but on the relationship between them and the police department as well.

“When the police department can have a positive impact on the kids starting out young and be a role model…they look up to us, which we want them to. I think it’s a great experience, and I think it’ll be a great outcome for both of us. The police department and the kids,” Judd said.