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RIVERTON — A Riverton teenager is getting national attention for growing three gardens to help the Utah Food Bank.
Morgan Barron, 13, was prompted when she heard that one in six children under the age of 5 goes hungry. "That really bugged me," she said, "and I decided I was going to make a difference about it."
Next thing you know, she had three gardens going — in South Salt Lake, Magna and Daybreak.
"It's fun," she said.
Morgan got volunteers to help, acquired grants and grew more than 1,500 pounds of produce last year, all for the food bank.
Sweet potatoes, tomatoes and purple peppers did well. She has plans to grow asparagus and has a tip for organic gardening: "Use onions, even though no one eats them, ‘cause bugs don't like them either."
She hopes more people will grow a row or more of produce to help feed the hungry.
Morgan has been named one of Utah's top youth volunteers of 2012. That means she'll receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., where she will compete with other students from around the country for top national honors.
