On Jan. 26th, the Yolo County Health & Human Services Agency’s Hanna & Herbert Bauer Memorial Community Garden was honored as one of 23 innovation challenge finalists at the statewide Let’s Get Healthy California Innovation Challenge Conference held in Sacramento.

The Let’s Get Healthy California task force began in 2012 with the goal of making California the healthiest state in the nation. The Let’s Get Healthy Initiative includes six goal areas, each of which was highlighted at the conference. Yolo County’s garden project, entitled “Growing Healthy Habits,” showcased the innovative ways that a community garden can improve food access to low income residents, provide nutrition and gardening resources for the community and be a place for youth to learn about the food system. Yolo County’s garden project coordinator served with four others as conference panelists to discuss community initiatives focused on the goal area of living well.

“We are proud to receive statewide recognition for the unique and innovative way our Hanna & Herbert Bauer Memorial Community Garden programs help the community to achieve good health,” said Yolo County Health & Human Services Agency Director Joan Planell.

Yolo County’s garden project is featured on Let’s Get Healthy California’s website: http://letsgethealthy.ca.gov/together/innovation-challenge-showcase/.

For more information about the Hanna & Herbert Bauer Memorial Community Garden and the programs offered, visit www.yolocounty.org/garden.