When motivating young people to volunteer, it’s a common question. Especially in a virtual world where communicating with thumbs is a growing norm.

But Principal Adam Sharp of Reyes Maria Ruiz Leadership Academy in Phoenix, Arizona, doesn’t mind the thumbs. Especially if they’re green thumbs. “Every school has a niche,” said Sharp. “Whether it’s sports or arts, ours is servant leadership. Look outside and you’ll see – we’re cultivating a new culture.”

On the grounds of the school, there’s a lush garden in bloom. It’s a project made possible after Principal Sharp received a State Farm^TM Good Neighbor Impact Schools Grant through Youth Service America (YSA).

“I applied for the Good Neighbor grant because I wanted a strong curriculum for doing service projects. When we get students out of the classroom and contributing to a greater good, they’re learning through doing,” said Sharp.

The idea to create a garden sprouted a few years ago. With planning and care, it quickly blossomed.

“YSA had a plan and a program for us to implement this,” Sharp said. “As a Title 1 school, many of our students are on free and reduced lunch. We wanted to focus on helping others while promoting a healthy lifestyle.”

As the garden grew, so did opportunities to serve.

“We have a garden club that’s learning to grow and cultivate food from seed to table,” said Sharp. “Students are harvesting vegetables – including some they’ve never eaten. We also have a green house. This way we can keep growing crops – even in the winter.”

Jorge Sandoval is a service-learning teacher. For him, the community garden is part of a larger conversation.

“When we think about food, we also think about hunger and homelessness,” Sandoval explained. “Many of the students have seen homeless on the streets, on the highway. In class we explore statistics, we talk about the causes and solutions. This garden is one way we can give back as servant leaders.”

Student Monica Garcia sums up servant leadership like this: “It’s teaching me to be kind and to think about others instead of myself.”

The 10-year-old is often in the community garden, caring for plants and volunteering to deliver food to families in need.

“It’s about sharing, and keeping people healthy” said Monica. “I understand this now.”

In honor of Global Youth Service Day (April 21-23), Reyes Maria Ruiz Leadership Academy students are giving back by volunteering at a local food bank. They’re also working with the community to plant flowers and bushes that attract butterflies, birds and bees to the school garden. This increases pollination and crop growth.

"Thanks to YSA and State Farm, we've been able to turn an idea into action," said Sharp. "Students aren't just seeing results, they're creating them. Any school can do this. It's about fostering an attitude and ability to serve."

As the new gardeners get ready to plant, they excitedly share their comments.

These gardeners are students in the Specialized Varying Exceptionalities Program (SVE) at Deerfield Beach Middle School (DBMS). These students have special needs. Some are autistic and some have physical handicaps.

“We have 33 students in our program gardening for the first time,” says Mike Lubin, Special Education Teacher at the school. “This is a wonderful opportunity for them. They are actively taking responsibility for caring, growing and producing their own gardens. They will also help create recipes with what they produce.”

DBMS is one of 31 elementary and middle schools designing and building edible gardens in “grow bags”. HandsOn Broward (HOB) is helping create the special gardens. A State Farm Youth Advisory Board (YAB) grant helps fund the unique experience.

Students from the selected schools not only create, build, and maintain sustainable gardens. They also learn to engage in healthy eating, nutrition, and environmental stewardship.

“I’m learning that plants need to have enough water, air and sun,” says Saniyah Kenon, second-grader at Liberty Elementary school. “I’m going to make a food dish for my mommy with the tomatoes I grow.”

“We’re trying to let the kids see where the food on their plates comes from,” says Saniyah’s teacher, Myrtle Lowe. “The students are overjoyed. They now have the hands-on experience of really growing their own gardens. Once the vegetables ripen, we’ll harvest. The school cafeteria will make salads and the students will be able to eat the food they tended.”

“Thanks to the support of State Farm, we are able to bring this service-learning program to thousands of students throughout Broward County,” said Dale Mandell, CEO of HandsOn Broward. “We believe hands-on experiences are particularly effective in teaching the importance of healthy living and environmental responsibility. We’re grateful to State Farm for sharing our vision.”