The Vanderburgh County SWCD presented their 2020 Conservation Educator of the Year Award to Cindy Farmer.   Cindy is the project leader for the Junior Master Gardener program offered at Caze Elementary for 12 students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades. The students study soil science, the water cycle, beneficial garden insects, the importance of soil sampling, how to grow and plant seeds using the square food gardening method, how flowers are pollinated and by whom are just to name a few.  The students grow 36 different varieties of vegetables, fruits and herbs organically in pots, grow bags, raised beds and in-ground gardens.

This program also provides teachers with Monarch eggs in a mini habitat where students observe the life cycle changes of the Monarch butterfly and release the butterflies in the garden every year.  A worm composter is used in the class,  allowing them to add worm compost to new plantings, where students see how worms help recycle organic material and make it available to the plants as nutrients. Cindy also teaches the importance of nutrition, food preparation, safe food handling and cooking techniques where students are encouraged to eat through the colors of the rainbow every day.