Grow, Eat and Learn

Workshop and DiscussionJanuary 14, 2011

Projects in Arlington and Alexandriainclude…

• Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC)Plant a Row

• School Food ServicesF2T and Schoolyard 2 Cafeteria

• Lawns 2 Lettuces 4 LunchAshlawn Elementary School

• Peter Rabbit GardenTuckahoe Elementary School

• Alexandria Elementary Schools• Tancil Court, Alexandria• Virginia Gardens, Arlington• George Washington Middle School

Community Gardens• Williamsburg, Kenmore, Gunston Middle

Schools• Area High Schools e.g. TC Williams• Arlington Career Center

Why?ISSUES

• Physical Activity– CDC recommends 60 mins

a day moderate activity

• Healthy Eating– USDA recommends “5 a

day”

• EnvironmentalEducation/OutdoorLearning– Some research supports

children benefit from beingand learning outdoors

GOALS• Change Body Mass Index

– Decrease sedentary behaviorand increase fruit/vegconsumption

• Provide research-basededucation– Food production, consumption,

waste and energy cycles

• Increase communityconnections

• Foster youth development

Educational Resources• Age appropriate• Context appropriate• VA Standards of

Learning linkage

Project PLANTSPromoting Lifelong Activity and Nutrition Through

Schools

After-School Garden Clubs

• USDA sponsored• Four elementary schools• Twice a week, 1.5 hour sessions

with 4th and 5th graders• Club activities: healthy snack,

physical activity, gardening,clean-up, journal and reflection

Project PLANTSPromoting Lifelong Activity and Nutrition Through

Schools

Parent-Home Component

• Garden Newslettertips and recipes

• “Take-Home” questions• Garden Plants

with care instructions

Project PLANTSPromoting Lifelong Activity and Nutrition Through

Schools

Volunteer Program

• Cooperative Extension train,mentor and support volunteers

• Volunteers include school staff,after-school staff, MG, PTA,and wider community

• Collaborative group ofvolunteers work together andconnect to school/community

Imagine….

Arlington Traditional School

I Can Grow Vegetable GardenClub

For the Burpee 2011 I Can Grow Youth Garden Award

March 17 2009. Bare earth.Scout families begin the veg patch and plant.

We water and wait…

Three weeks later - June 10 2009.Picking the first radish. WOW!

…and it’s delicious!

Learn to grow, look after and harvestvegetables.

• The soccer teamharvests chilipeppers andcinnamon basil.

• We take the firstdonation ofvegetables fromschool to theArlington FoodAssistance Center.

Our Second Year Growing Vegetables at ATS.March 2010.

First Grade and K plant lettuce, radishes, kale,and carrots…

… in a special 4 - 0 shape. Why?

…To Celebrate 40th Earth Day 2010!Everyone tours the garden.

69 Second Graders harvest, prepareand eat kale with lunch.

The first students cook and taste ourschool-grown vegetables!

The Fourth Grade 4-H groupadds another bed to the vegetable patch.

We study water and compost -that’s on the VA Standards of Learning!

If we win the Burpee I Can Grow2011 Youth Garden Award….we will

• Establish an I CanGrow after-school club

• Plant and maintain ourvegetable garden

• Meet regularly everyweek

• Build friendships andcommunity connections

• Learn science, healthylife styles and more!

Next steps…• Networks

• Information exchange

• Research

• Funding