CHENANGO COUNTY – Grow, Cook, Eat is a multi-faceted program offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County and funded by Chenango United Way. The 10-month program is designed to teach participants to grow their own food, cook nutritious and economical meals, preserve produce, participate in fitness activities or classes and set health related goals.

Grow, cook, eat gives participants an integrated and holistic program so that the whole experience will be greater than the sum of its parts.

Each participant is provided with a community garden plot, container garden or support for gardening in their own yard.

Organizers say that in order to successfully complete the program, participants are likewise required to participate in a number of other classes closely linked with the philosophy of Grow, Cook, Eat. Among them five gardening classes, six cooking and nutrition classes, three food preservation classes, three YMCA physical fitness classes or other group activities, personal goal setting and evaluation worksheets, and completing 10 hours of volunteer work in the community.