- Author: Rose Hayden-Smith
Recently, I had the privilege to work with two sixth grade classes taught by a gifted educator in Ventura Unified School District, Anne Morningstar. Ms. Morningstar is the best kind of teacher: one who teaches superbly by inspiring her students to develop a love of learning, to think outside the box, and to apply what they learn. In the words of more than one sixth-grader, "she rocks!" I agree.
I spent some time discussing the concept of sustainable food systems with each class. We also discussed how fortunate these students are to live in an area that is so abundant and diverse in terms of the food that is produced. The students asked wonderful questions and offered thoughtful answers to the questions that I posed.
Each table group worked collaboratively to develop ideas and answers for six different discussion points about food systems, their role as consumers, and how they can encourage others their age to take positive actions to improve their school food system, decrease the food mile, and take a more active and informed role as consumers.
The result of their work was amazing, and will be posted on the VictoryGrower site in the next few days. I encourage you to check back to see the ideas that these students provided.
A few days after our discussion, I received a stack of cards from these remarkable students. More than a few described their home gardening efforts. I was not surprised that quite a few of these students gardened at home. After all, these are youth who have participated in Ventura Unified's Healthy School Project, which not only provides a wonderful farm-to-school program through its cafeterias, but also has a linked program that encourages school gardens. A number of the students had enjoyed farm-fresh produce from their school salad bar, and had also gardened with me during their six years at Loma Vista Elementary School. And Ventura County, as a whole, has a history of success in nurturing school garden programs, from the top down, and the bottom up. It's been a wonderful thing to watch and be part of. Clearly, exposure to these kinds of programs in school will positively influence behavior outside of school.
Most of the students, though, described what they dreamed of growing. If they read this, I'd encourage each of them to take the next step, to make the commitment to become a VictoryGrower by making a home garden their family's project this spring. It's the perfect time to pick up a hoe, make a family memory, and anticipate wonderful eating this summer.
I know that some have already started. During my recent visit, I gave each student vegetable seeds. When I visited the school again today, a student came up to me and said the seeds he'd planted had already sprouted. He was very excited. And so was I. Congratulations, Andrew, on being a VictoryGrower!
"A Garden for Everyone. Everyone in A Garden."
- Author: Rose Hayden-Smith
This week's recall of 143 million pounds of beef (much of it destined for the nation's school lunch program) inspired today's blog. Originally, I was going to plug school gardens and farm-to-school as a way to improve the school food system. I began writing about
Instead, I am going to allow a youth to speak to the issue. My daughter, Natalie, a middle-school student in Ventura Unified, was asked to prepare a written and oral book report. With my encouragement, she chose to discuss Eric Schlosser and Charles Wilson's, "Chew On This: Everything You Don't Want to Know about Fast Food." It's "Fast Food Nation" for younger audiences, and it's a compelling read. Natalie read it, and after she was done for the day, I'd read it, too. The writing style engaged her, and I noticed her sharing information with her friends via phone calls, emails and in personal conversations. Hmmm…youth advocacy? The report she gave was a hit, and the book has passed among eight different sixth graders and their families in the last couple of months. When it was returned to us last week (on a short layover before being passed on to yet another friend), I noticed how dog-eared it had become. An important book will take on that aspect, don't you think?
Inspired by the book, Natalie wrote the authors. Here is a copy of her letter, unedited:
"Dear Eric Schlosser & Charles Wilson,
I really enjoyed reading your book Chew On This. I really liked how honest you were about McDonalds, and how they just wanted to make money, and not care about what they put into their products. I used to eat at Wendy’s at least once a week. Since I started reading your book, I’ve only eaten there once in one month and a half. I think that Chew On This has really changed my perspective on food. I really appreciate that you have made a book that can really change someone’s life. I liked it so much; I am going to do a book report on it. I have been telling all of my classmates about it, and many of them want to read it. Most of my classmates liked hearing about the food coloring and how the chickens were treated at the slaughter houses. Some of them even said, “I never want to eat at McDonalds again!” Other classmates have asked me repeatedly if they could borrow my book. I also told my teacher about how they now do Gastric Bypass Surgery on kids, she said “Really? I can’t understand why they would do that if it’s so dangerous for adults!”
I was amazed at how much I didn’t know, because my mom works in agriculture, and the history of agriculture. She even read the book and was also amazed at how much she didn’t know. My mom went to a food conference this summer, and I met Melinda Hemmelgarn, (The Food Sleuth), and I have listened to her talk before. If you haven’t read her column, you should. Again, I really thank you for writing this book. You have changed my life.
Sincerely,
11 years old, Natalie Smith"
Mom again. I guess the point of this blog is to note that perhaps the strongest allies we have to help us promote gardening, healthy eating, and a sustainable food system are youth. If we can provide space for them to enter into the discussion, they may direct us to the solution. That's certainly my hope.
Over the President's Day holiday, Natalie planted her spring
P.S. from Natalie’s mom: Natalie is right about a lot of things, including how much her mom doesn’t know. She’s also spot on about reading Melinda Hemmelgarn's work. A link to yesterday's column, in which she addressed
"A Garden for Everyone. Everyone in a Garden."
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