Tampa Teen Turns Sandy Lot Into Mental Health Garden, Earning Girl Scouts' Gold Award

During Mental Health Awareness Month, a Tampa Girl Scout has put her own experience into a community project: a garden meant to give people a healthy and productive way to cope with everyday pressures.

The Girl Scout, 18-year-old Emily, said she struggled with her mental health in 2020 and 2021, and that gardening gave her a positive outlet. "Gardening actually was a good outlet for me to put something positive back into the world," she said.

Over the course of 80 hours, Emily built the garden from scratch behind Oakwood Church. She also helped write the curriculum for a gardening class used by Trinity Home School Academy.

According to Emily, the course covers mental health and how gardening can help through the senses and sights. It also addresses pollination and pollution, and how people can be more sustainable for the environment.

The project has already made an impression on churchgoers, students and teachers. Corey McKeown of Trinity Home School Academy said he was struck by the change in the space. "It used to be just sand, and look what they've done with it," he said. He added that students arrive from the gardening class carrying "huge vegetables."

Emily said the garden also serves as a place for children to open up. Many of them like to come and add their own touch to the space, she said, and they can talk through whatever they are struggling with. "We're just there for them," she said.

The work has earned Emily the Gold Award on behalf of the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida. Jill Painter of the organization said such projects are "truly reflective of the girl," describing them as the girl's passion and idea, and her own view of how she can make a difference and improve the world.

Emily is set to start college next fall. She hopes the garden keeps growing and continues to offer positivity after she leaves. She also hopes other schools take notice of what she has done. In her view, the garden is a beneficial way to give back to the environment while also showing that "it's okay to talk about your mental health issues, and there are ways you can help."

The Girl Scouts of West Central Florida will hold its Gold Award ceremony on June 10. The event will feature 32 Girl Scouts and is open to the public.