One square foot of dirt sounds like a small amount of space, but children at Ray’s Child Care and Learning Center in the Mat-Su Valley are making the most of it. Children at the center are growing vegetables, herbs and flowers in their own one square-foot garden box. Ray's has been doing “Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE)” long before it became popular. Farm to ECE activities include gardening, purchasing local foods, and teaching kids about food and agriculture. ​