When I started volunteering this winter as a garden science teacher with Washington Youth Garden,
entering one 3rd-grade classroom every week to help instill knowledge
and enthusiasm by the children for the wonders of nature, I had no idea
that this experience would inspire me to initiate a national call for Universal School Gardens.
But when I witnessed the children’s smiles and eyes light up in the
course of planting seeds and watching them sprout into seedlings and
grow, my appreciation deepened for the many reasons why school gardens
are gaining popularity and have an excellent track record for enhancing the educational learning and natural curiosity of young people. “Every
student should be free to enjoy the incomparable thrill of tasting
fresh healthy food that he or she had a direct hand in growing,” I thought, “and every school in America should sprout a garden!”
That’s why this March 2010, as spring fast approaches, I am asking you to join me in expressing support for the mission of “Good Food For All Kids: A Garden at Every School.” Simply by casting your vote for the principle of Universal School Gardens in the 2010 Ideas for Change in America contest sponsored by Change.org, you can help move this idea one important step closer from inspiration to reality.
After voting concludes on Friday, March 12th, the 10 most popular
ideas will then be transformed into national grassroots social change
campaigns. The staff at Change.org
will reach out directly to relevant decision-makers to engage them on
the winning ideas, and they will work with each winner to create a
grassroots campaign and promote their idea nationwide. Already, “Good Food For All Kids: A Garden at Every School”
was one of the top 3 ideas in the “Food and Agriculture” category in
the first round. Now, we are playing to win the final round!
Although my vision for Universal School Gardens is ambitious, I
believe that now is indeed the ideal moment for a new nationwide
mobilization of Americans dedicated to the common purpose of achieving
this delicious dream. We have extraordinary political momentum on our
side. For example, the Obama administration has stated its commitment
to putting an end to childhood hunger by 2015, and First Lady Michelle Obama recently launched her signature “Let’s Move” initiative aiming to combat the nation’s crisis of childhood obesity through strategies for healthier schools and better children’s fitness. Establishing sustainable food gardens at schools across America should be a key component of both of these efforts.
And we have a clear legacy of success to build on: Thousands of
edible gardens have already been established at schools in every U.S.
state. Educators have produced an abundance of garden-focused curricular standards in all subjects, from science and math to English and art, as well as the empirical evidence to demonstrate why school gardens are a fantastic educational tool and define best practices. A wealth of school gardening websites and resources is available to provide practical instruction.
After experiencing one of the coldest and toughest winters in United
States history, with countless families struggling in the grip of a
severe prolonged economic recession that has caused a rising tide of childhood hunger,
this year many American children are anticipating spring with special
fervor. When the snow is all gone and flowers once again begin to
bloom, why not celebrate all across the country by planting a wave of
new school gardens?
Ultimately, committing to the realization of good food for all kids may be one of the best ways that we can rebuild local economies
while proving that investment in the health, nutrition and future of
America’s young people will no longer be sacrificed to the convenience
of serving them the cheap, bland, uniform, unhealthy processed foods
that have become the standard school menu. Only when each and every
student has the unhindered opportunity to access the daily nourishment
of healthy foods will we be able to honestly claim that no children are
being left behind.
It is no longer a secret that the diet of America’s youth needs to
radically improve. Hunger, bad nutrition and obesity among children are
leading causes of health risks and often contribute to poor classroom
performance. A study by Feeding America
(pdf) asserts that “food insecurity and hunger, together with other
correlates of poverty, can dramatically alter the architecture of
children’s brains, making it impossible for them to fulfill their
potential.” By planting a garden at every school in America, we will
ensure that every child has the opportunity to benefit from eating more
fresh healthy foods. Let’s make 2010 the year that the idea of universal school gardening takes off as a force for positive change in U.S. education!
Ethan Genauer is a volunteer with Washington Youth Garden,
helping to bring garden science into DC classrooms. Before moving to DC
in 2009, he lived in New Mexico for several years, where he worked with
sustainable community farms and led activities to increase youth
engagement with sustainable food systems. In addition to seeking your vote for school gardens in the contest at Change.org, Ethan is inviting folks to join the new “School Gardens Across America” group at Facebook.
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