Urban Gardener: Farm-to-school program connects kids to food

Even though school has already started, October is a great time to turn attention back to school gardens. Many schools are already well on their way: planning for the year, re-establishing garden beds, clearing weeds and starting fall plantings. There is plenty of work to do, and students’ energy can be channeled into school-garden activities in October to celebrate national Farm to School month.

What does “farm to school” mean exactly? This is a movement happening across the nation to integrate garden and nutrition education into K-12 school curricula. Core components of farm-to-school programs are education, school gardens and procuring healthy local products for school cafeterias.

Garden-education programs focus on connecting kids with the food they eat, and have positive effects both at school and in the community. Working with students has a broad impact, as children bring home what they learn at school and share with their families and friends. Building connections between schools and local agriculture also boosts economic development through job creation and positive impacts for farmers and ranchers in accessing new markets.

START EARLY

Fresh fruits and vegetables taste so much better when they are grown with love and harvested yourself. This is evident to anyone who has watched a child pull a big, bright carrot from the ground for the first time. Hands-on experience is an effective way to connect students with their food. Participation in school gardens and related farm-to-school activities has increased students’ access to and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as increasing kids’ willingness to try new foods.

Many schools are bolstering these benefits by connecting their cafeterias to their garden programs. One option is to choose produce kids can grow that can be used in the cafeteria. With a teacher coordinating, school cooks can request produce directly from students, which also creates an opportunity for marketing, business and entrepreneurship lessons.

On a larger scale, the state Department of Education has been working with schools to incorporate more local produce into cafeteria menus. The ‘Aina Pono ­Hawai’i Farm to School program collaborates with the Kohala Center, Kokua ­Hawai’i Foundation and other organizations on Hawaii island in a pilot program at the Kohala complex of schools. Students are provided meals cooked from scratch featuring Hawaii-­grown products, using recipes developed in collaboration with cafeteria staff and adapted to fit both local tastes and nutritional guidelines. The program expanded this year to include Mililani High School on Oahu.

Another innovative way to improve student nutrition is by creating a “share table” in the cafeteria. Students can share or exchange whole fruits or unopened snacks they are not going to eat, and students who are still hungry can take extra. This is a simple way to help students in need and reduce food waste simultaneously.

School cafeteria programs can also connect to the school garden through composting. Composting has many benefits including reducing waste, recycling nutrients back to the garden and potentially providing revenue for schools. On Oahu the award-winning Windward Zero Waste School Hui program includes five schools. It has made remarkable progress toward redirecting cafeteria waste into a valuable resource — their compost sales are popular with the local community of gardeners.

PLAN YOUR GARDEN

One common challenge for school gardens is upkeep and sustainability. Weeds grow quickly, especially here in the tropics, and can easily get out of hand without regular maintenance. Look for ways to build partnerships with community neighbors, parent volunteers or local organizations that can contribute time for maintenance, especially during school breaks.

Planning ahead with an eye for sustainability will help in the long run; there are lots of resources available to help with the planning process. University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources master gardeners are available in every county and are happy to advise on school-garden projects. They can help develop plans and incorporate ideas that may reduce labor needs, like automated irrigation systems or cover crops to protect the garden during school breaks. It is also important to teach good safety practices while working in the garden (safe tool use, proper clothing, spatial awareness and managing exposure to elements) and with food (proper washing, storage and preparation of produce).

CREATIVE CURRICULUM

School gardens can be powerful hands-on learning laboratories for students to explore topics across the standard curriculum. There is great potential for engaging with other teachers in the school in creative ways. Engagement from faculty and staff can give the garden longevity.

Here are a few ideas to consider:

>> Can teachers develop applied-math exercises looking at garden geometry?

>> Can biology and earth science classes conduct experiments?

>> What about teaching Hawaiian culture and history about canoe plants, native plants and introduced species?

>> Could art classes use materials from the garden, or have students decorate the garden area or create informative signs for visitors?

The possibilities are endless. There is already a robust framework of curricula available to get started.

More information can be found through the following organizations:

>> The Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui provides statewide resources and contact information for organizations on each island active in farm-to-school efforts: hiphi.org/farmtoschool

>> The University of Hawaii CTAHR master gardeners website has a “School Garden Resources” tab on the left side of its webpage: 808ne.ws/tropicaltopics

>> The National Farm to School Network offers great ideas, teaching materials and curriculum resources: farmtoschool.org

Eating healthy and supporting local agriculture are always in season, and now is a great time to connect with school garden projects in your communities.

Emilie Kirk is a junior extension agent with the University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and coordinates the UH Master Gardener Program on Kauai.