Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Kids Grow Their Own Food

I lifted this story from my friends at Epi-log. For a cooking website, they are consistently aware of ethical and sustainable food issues, as well as education. Well done Epi-log, once again.

by Joanne Camas - on 06/14/10 at 11:59 AM
"Two great stories about youngsters growing food caught my attention this weekend. In Chicago, the Green Youth Farm at the city's Botanic Garden held a farmers' market to share the fruits (and vegetables) of their labors. The Farm hires 60 local teens each summer and teaches them skills such as organic planting and beekeeping. "By the end of the season, participants have learned how to work together as a team, gained valuable job skills, discovered a whole new way to look at the food they eat," say the organizers.

"And starting to green their thumbs even younger are two five-year-old girls in Washington, DC, who've just written a book - or at least told it to their mother - called We Grew It, Let's Eat It! reports NPR. Annie and Veda enjoy growing veggies, but confess that their favorite crop would be "ice cream plants!"
We've reported on the "Chefs Move to Schools" initiative and Alice Waters' Edible Schoolyard, and surely creating young and educated consumers is the best way to speed up movement toward healthier school lunches. Seeing these youngsters enjoying getting their hands dirty is a sign that we're moving in the right direction.
Are there youth farms or gardens where you live? Do your children like to garden and grow food?

"P.S. Check out the Design a School Garden contest at Good.com. They are looking for creative designs for a 20-foot-square space focusing on one or more of these themes: edible/kitchen, sustainable/habitat, science/learning, literacy/reading, and rooftop/vertical."

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