Local gardener’s ‘aha moment’ sprouts national recognition

Cookie Coleman had no idea the five minutes she spent in a small, mobile television studio this past summer would end up garnering so much attention. “I had a friend who said I should go do it,” Coleman said. “So it was on a whim so to speak. I just wanted the chance to share my goals.”

Coleman’s story, filmed in a converted Airstream trailer, was for the Mutual of Omaha’s Aha Moment Tour when it came to Shreveport’s SciPort: Louisiana’s Science Center on May 28-29. Coleman’s story of starting a community garden at the Valencia Recreational Center in Stoner Hill was chosen as one of 20 semi-finalists – the winner given the chance to star in a national Mutual of Omaha commercial next spring. Her aha moment was one of more than 1,000 recorded for the campaign.

Coleman’s aha moment came while working with the youth at the Valencia Rec Center.

“We teach the kids all the aspects of gardening, slowly introducing them on how to plant, harvest and even cook their vegetables,” she said. The garden started small back in 2008. “We started with okra back then. Now, we just harvested a full salad with lettuce and cucumbers,” she said.

“We are facing a serious obesity epidemic. I realized that with gardening we can help kids change their eating habits by giving them a connection to the food,” Coleman said. “The kids learn the benefits of healthy eating, and they go home and tell their parents about it. We have even implemented cooking classes as part of the program.”

Children of all ages participate in the gardening experience. “We have kids from 5 to 6-years-old all the way to 18. The older kids work with the younger kids as mentors and help with their nutritional education,” Coleman said. They meet at 4 p.m. Thursdays and generally have anywhere from 15 to 20 children participating.

The Mutual of Omaha Aha Moment Tour is in its fifth year of collecting inspirational stories from around the country. “It’s our way to, one, deliver a message that is really positive, and, two, do it in a really inspirational way,” said Andrew Rouillard, vice president of brand management and advertising for Mutual of Omaha. “What’s great about the whole campaign is there are so many stories that are so inspiring, and Cookie definitely inspired us,” he said.

“What Cookie is doing in terms of a community garden with kids and teaching them the value of fresh vegetables is a great story. We need more of that out there,” Rouillard said. “It’s such an easy way to expose kids to the joy of gardening and teaching them healthy eating habits.”

Upon hearing she was chosen as a semifinalist, “I got excited!” Coleman said. “I realized this will get my message out about working with kids and getting them more nutritional education.” Valencia is not the only community garden Coleman mentors, and she along with volunteers are trying to reproduce the success of the Valencia garden in other locations. She is also the coordinator for the Highland Community Garden on the corner of Herndon and Stephens, which in conjunction with Highland Church produces the Highland blessing meal for the homeless.

Coleman is also busy as the president of the Red River Coalition of Community Gardens, a local group working to spread nutritional education and community involvement. The work of these gardens, including Valencia, relies heavily on volunteer participation. “We are always looking for more volunteers,” Cookie said.

“Cookie is exactly the kind of inspiration we are looking for, and hers is the kind of story we like to share with the country,” Rouillard said. “There is a lot of negative out there these days, and it’s reaffirming of the good in people when you hear the amazing stories of so many Americans.”

Though Coleman was not the national winner, she still feels lucky. “I am just happy to have had the chance to get my message about the importance of teaching our youth healthy eating habits. I’m learning to stand up for what I believe. And I believe in this.”

– Mandy Byrd

SEE COLEMAN’S AHA MOMENT:

Cookie’s Mutual of Omaha’s Aha Moment video can be viewed at www.ahamoment.com/moments/4351. For more information or to volunteer at your neighborhood community garden, visit the Red River Coalition of Community Gardens website at www.rrccg.org.