Even the U.S. government
has become an advocate for gardening in schools. The U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) initiated its pilot program, "Healthy
Gardens, Healthy Youth" in 2011. Everything from "videos, along with
pre-recorded webinars and other downloadable resources comprise a comprehensive
toolkit designed to train educators in implementing HGHY’s educational
components." (USDA blog)
According to WSU
Extension, "The 'Healthy Gardens, Healthy Youth' People’s Garden School
Pilot Project is an Extension partnership that aims to engage more than 4,000
elementary students in creating vegetable & fruit gardens in 54 low-income
schools, as part of a 2.5-year research study."
Yet another study
indicated an increase in vitamin A, vitamin C, and fiber intake among its
control group of children involved in a school gardening project.
Square Foot Gardening
Foundation (SFGF) has been teaching this philosophy since its inception. In
fact, Mel Bartholomew donated a square-foot garden box to every school in Utah. Now study after
study seems to support what SFGF and Mel Bartholomew have long said: that
teaching children to garden grows more than just vegetables. It sets children
up for a lifetime of healthy habits, such as eating right, connecting with
nature, contributing to the greater good, better physical and mental health, self-sufficiency,
exercise, and so much more.
It's great to have
proof that Mel and SFGF were right all along. But now that the rest of the
world has found out about the benefits of gardening and eating
fresh-from-the-garden, all they need is Certified SFG Instructors, like you, to
show them that Square
Foot Gardens
are the best gardens of all. Take
advantage of all the free tools and resources available here to make a
difference in your local schools. Many SFG instructors are already doing just
that – and now there's proof that it is making a difference!
Resources
WSU Extension:
People's Garden Official Website for USDA pilot program for schools project
School
Gardens – Growing More Than Vegetables, Harvard Pilgrim report, May 2011,
citing studies that show benefits of school gardens
Cornell
University: Summary of research findings on six key benefit areas of
garden-based learning for children, youth, adults, and families:
No comments:
Post a Comment