5 Reasons Edible Schoolyards are Necessary

By mudlark • February 2nd, 2010

Have you heard of the Edible Schoolyard? It’s this fantastic concept of putting gardens in our schools. Not just any gardens, but green-powered gardens that kids take care of. Do you get it? Our kids, who too often think that milk and carrots come from Super Walmart, are suddenly thrust into an active ’schoolyard’ (in schools where recess has often been revoked). They learn to tend the land and watch it bear fruit. They learn the significance of seasons beyond umbrellas and muck boots and swim trunks. They learn where food comes from, and they participate in cultivating it.

Do you have any idea how many problems this solves?

Recess is often being taken away, meaning kids who need activity to keep their minds going are languishing behind stationary school desks in classrooms that reward quiet inactivity (leading to obesity, diabetes, etc.).
More and more kids are on the free and reduced lunch programs (as well as free breakfasts in many states) because of soaring unemployment leading to scores of people on food stamps. These programs – while necessary – are draining much needed funds from overstretched education budgets. Gardens that supplement food available to the schools (while unlikely to be considered self-sustaining) would certainly make a dent in school food purchases.
Most kids think they don’t like veggies. Some think they don’t like fruit. What do we think? We think they’ve been told they don’t like veggies. “Here, honey, I’ll douse those peas in ketchup till they swim. Then you won’t have to taste them.” “I didn’t give you many carrots. If you’ll eat what’s there, I’ll give you ice cream later!” But kids who are involved in growing and harvesting food are much more willing to try the fruits of their labor. Get those veggies in, and they just might discover that they like them!
French fries are often the only vegetables some kids eat in a given week. Why? It’s cheaper to buy potato chips and ding-dongs than fresh produce. And junk foods require zero prep. Open bag, stuff mouth. Repeat. Hard working families have little time for meal prep and reach for tummy-filling foods that are sure to please. Kids get to school, receive their free lunch, and pick at what resembles what they think they like. Obesity rates and diabetes sky-rocket. At school we have a captive population, and they’re much more likely to eat healthy if they are involved in the process.
And yes, kids learn that peas aren’t made in a can, cucumbers can be more than just pickles, and produce doesn’t start its lifecycle on the shelves of Super Walmart.

My kids’ school has at least an acre or two of unused land. On rare occasion it provides extra parking space for school events, and once a year it’s used as the location for ‘field day.’ Think of how much daily use – and education value – would come from converting 1.5 acres into a food-producing garden. And being in Florida, the garden would be viable year round.