QuickStart Tennis of Central Virginia's newest initiative, Grow Veggies for QuickStart!, is a program to help kids who participate in QuickStart programs design, plant and tend vegetable, fruit and herb gardens. Research suggests that not only does caring for a garden get children outdoors and physically active, but also that they are more likely to consume its healthy vegetables. QuickStart Tennis already has kids outdoors and being active, so planting a garden is a natural.

The aim of Grow Veggies! is to link the healthy eating theme of Go Bananas! with growing healthy foods locally and eating locally grown foods. We hope to partner with local farmers in the predominantly rural areas we serve to have them serve as mentors for QuickStart Tennis gardens and local food hubs to reinforce the Go Bananas! message. Combining tennis and agriculture in a positive and fun way -- what a great idea!

QCV has received a grant from the Junior League of Charlottesville that will enable us to begin planting tennis gardens at schools.

TENNIS + AGRICULTURE = GROW VEGGIES FOR QUICKSTART!