by Catherine Haug, August 30, 2011
Thanks to Sally J. for the Alice Waters video link.
For those who have been reading my posts for a while, this will not be news for you, as buying & eating local has been my project for much of my adult life. But perhaps this will inspire you to join the local food revolution as well. Alice Waters (Edible Schoolyard, Slow Foods, Chez Panisse) has been championing this movement now for decades; she calls it a “Delicious Revolution.”
Watch her 4-minute video: Edible Education. She talks about how the Edible Schoolyard (founded 1995) provides hands-on experience and knowledge for the kids, and excites them about sustainability and enjoying the outdoors. She believes that this kind of program should be in every school, beginning with kindergarden. “Bring kids back to their senses, if you will.” Why not here in Bigfork?
Here is more advice from Alice, for both parents and educators (see page 2 of the Edible Education article):
- Return to the garden: grow your own, “explore nature’s classroom, and share with the young people in your life.” Work with your school (administrators, teachers and other parents) to create a garden at Bigfork and other local schools. California School Garden Network and School Garden Wizard offer useful guides.
- Prepare your meals from scratch – and make your own convenience foods. Encourage your children/grandchildren to help with meal planning, shopping, and preparation. See Cooking Together for more tips.
- Share the bounty: invite family members to sit at the dining table for the main meal of the day. If this is not the norm for your family, start with just one day a week and slowly add more days. Invite your neighbors and friends once in a while, and give home-made foods as gifts.
- Teach/Train young leaders in nutrition education and school gardening. Visit FoodCorps to learn more and to apply to be a service member or nominate your school to become a FoodCorps host site.
- Advocate: “If you’re a parent or teacher, campaign to remove vending machines, processed snacks, fast food, and flavored milk, and put healthy, locally sourced options on the menu.
Download the Nourish Middle School Curriculum Guide to discover more ways to integrate food literacy into the classroom.
And here’s a great 2-minute video from Michael Pollan on Local Food Production.
See also the following recent posts on The EssentiaList for more inspiration in the Local Food Revolution: