Third-grader raises, then donates huge vegetable to shelter

EDWARD C. FENNELL
The Post and Courier

Katie Stagliano and her brother, John Michael, had a little fun with a huge cabbage Katie grew from a seedling before donating the vegetable to a soup kitchen.

EDWARD C. FENNELL
The Post and Courier

Nine-year-old Katie Stagliano scoops steamed leaves from the 40-pound cabbage that she grew at her Summerville home onto plates that will be served to the needy at Tricounty Family Ministries on Rivers Avenue.

It was little more than a seedling when third-grader Katie Stagliano brought the cabbage plant home from school and put it in the ground.

But more than just a huge vegetable grew over the next few months in the Stagliano family's yard in Summerville. In addition to opening doors to nature, the 40-pound, leafy, green sphere provided some lessons about life.

Once it matured, the cabbage was donated to Tricounty Family Ministries, which operates a soup kitchen in North Charleston. The vegetable became part of a Friday afternoon meal for more than 300 people, and 9-year-old Katie, who nursed the seedling into the behemoth she could not carry, helped serve it to a hungry group of needy that included some homeless. "It was way too big for me," Katie said about the colossal cabbage.

Those who dined on it are grateful to Katie and her family for donating the cabbage, said Sue Hanshaw, executive director of the ministries. "It was such an impressive cabbage," Hanshaw said.

All good stories, and vegetables, have small beginnings. Katie and classmates at Pinewood Preparatory School received seedlings in early spring, courtesy of the Bonnie Plants Farm in Alabama. The farm annually distributes hundreds of thousands of seedlings nationwide as part of its 3rd-Grade Cabbage Program.

The program helps children learn about farming, and many participants earn scholarships, Bonnie Plants' Web site states. "We at Bonnie Plants want to share our love of gardening," General Manager Dennis Thomas says on the Web page. He said that with proper care the company's "oversized" cabbage plants can grow to more than 40 pounds. "Help us by planting your cabbage and watch it grow, and grow and grow," he said.

Grow and grow and grow is exactly what Katie's cabbage did. Katie, who is rather soft-spoken, said she gave the infant cabbage a lot of water, Miracle Gro fertilizer and love.

Katie made news earlier this year when another one of her school projects resulted in a water conservation effort. While preparing a report on drought, Katie observed acres of dry, cracked land once covered by water at Lake Marion and saw an urgency to conserve water in efforts to save the lake. Her conservation recommendations were adopted by her family, friends and her school.

In February, Katie won the "Dr. Fresh" national toothbrush design contest. Her proposal was for a talking toothbrush that could remind kids to turn off the tap while brushing.

Katie's mom, Stacy Stagliano, said she hopes the cabbage experience will leave her daughter with a broader view of not just the miracle of life, but also the value of labor and the importance of sharing. "It's good for kids to see that vegetables don't come from the grocery store, they come from the ground," Stacy Stagliano said.

The cabbage might not have survived long enough to become a meal had not the Staglianos, including Katie's dad, John, provided it with security. "We heard there were deer and rabbits in the area, so we built a big cage for the cabbage," Katie said.

As the cabbage neared full potential, the family discussed what to do with it. "Katie loved the idea of donating it to a soup kitchen to help feed people in need," Katie's mom said.

She said the Fields to Families program, which brings fresh produce to the needy, suggested the beach-ball-size vegetable be taken to Tricounty Family Ministries.

"We took a big saw and cut the cabbage out of our garden," she said.

Katie and her little brother, John Michael Stagliano, had become very attached to the big cabbage. They drew a human face on it and provided it with hugs before saying goodbye.

Stacy Stagliano lauded her daughter as the cabbage was served. "It's hard to believe that from the little, bitty plant you have at least 300 people who are going to benefit. I am so proud of you."

Dr. Marjorie Mengedoht, a Tricounty Family Ministries volunteer, urged Katie to continue farming. "You can bring us more stuff," the volunteer said.

For more information on Tricounty Family Ministries, 3349 Rivers Ave., visit www.tricountyfamilyministries.org/index.....

Reach Edward C. Fennell at efennell@postandcourier.com or 745-5865.