Education Law

Cultivating Wellness

School children across the U.S. are harvesting what they have planted?.By that, BoardBuzz means that students are literally planting and picking vegetables in ?urban? gardens within schools. An article that came out this week in the Canadian Press shows that this movement is sweeping North America and that, with this activity, schools are not only trying to teach children about nature, but also about the importance of eating healthy foods. Some schools are using whatever students harvest to supplement lunches; New York City schoolchildren, for instance, grew vegetables and herbs that were picked in October and used them in cafeterias. Washington D.C. is going a step further and celebrating School Garden Week.

According to the article, school gardens aren?t entirely new. The word ?kindergarten,? which means ?children-garden? was created in 1840 by a German educator. But in the past, school gardens were often linked to 4-H programs and agricultural studies. Interest in urban school gardens started about a decade ago as a way to introduce children to more local and organic produce. And with the 2004 reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act, which requires districts to adopt wellness programs, that interest became even greater.

BoardBuzz thinks this is a great concept, but knows too well that there can be many barriers in developing and maintaining these gardens. Gardens, as the Canadian Press article shows, are operationally difficult. In addition, schools must submit menus for federal approval weeks in advance, making any last-minute additions from school gardens challenging. Then there is also the fact that health departments get concerned about food sources and many schools don?t have enough land and resources to feed all students fresh vegetables.

But BoardBuzz sees great value in students cultivating fresh vegetables, even if that food can?t make it to the school cafeteria. For one, harvesting gardens teaches children how to eat healthy. By harvesting their own food, kids can also taste what they grow and make the connection between what is grown and what is eaten. And, although the article doesn?t mention this, BoardBuzz believes working on gardens provides kids with an excellent opportunity to be physically active!

Research shows healthy children learn better. And if school gardens are going to encourage children to eat healthier at school and at home, then gardens are worth it. And as one person eloquently stated in the Canadian Press article: ?If we can link it to the kids performing better in school, then I think the extra cost for the food is going to be justified.?

Does your school district have student-grown vegetable gardens? Leave us a comment and tell us about it. And to learn more about the importance of healthy eating in improving academic achievement, access NSBA?s School Health Programs resources at www.nsba.org/schoolhealth, including "Healthy Eating 101.?

Full post as published by BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog on November 21, 2008 (boomark / email).