Panther Valley students’ work during the spring in the school’s garden is yielding results this summer.

Students at Panther Valley Elementary and Intermediate schools planted gardens outside with guidance from a foundation which promotes healthy living.

“The idea of the garden is to share with the community,” said Kerri Quick, Panther Valley Adopt-A-School Coordinator for St. Luke’s University Health Network.

The Kellyn Foundation visited students in the spring to conduct lessons about the importance of eating healthy, as they have the past four years. The annual lessons are made possible by St. Luke’s Adopt-A-School program.

“The garden has been a great experience for our students. The Kellyn Foundation came in several times throughout the year to talk to students and take them through this process,” said Lisa Mace, principal of Panther Valley Intermediate School.

During the winter, the foundation encourages kids to look at the nutrition facts for the foods they eat.

In April, the foundation helped fourth-grade students plant tomato and pepper plants in cups and grew them in the windows of their classrooms. In May, the plants were transplanted to the garden. Students also got to take home their own seedlings.

The first of several varieties that they planted are coming into season — dragon tongue beans. The beans are similar to a green bean but have a distinctive white and purple coloring.

“It’s a little more fun looking, and maybe kids are more apt to try it than just green beans,” Quick said.

The intermediate school posted on Facebook on Monday that some of the dragon tongue beans are available. She can be reached at Panther Valley High School at 570-645-2172, ext. 3074.

The adopt-a-school program is also looking for volunteers to help maintain the garden during the summer months.

The adopt-a-school program aims to bring together the community and school district to promote healthy living initiatives, chronic disease prevention, and to connect families with medical, dental, mental health and substance abuse prevention programs.

For more information, visit http://www.panthervalley.org/adopt-a-school.