King Middle School Edible Schoolyard
When I lived in Berkeley I was an avid volunteer teacher in the kitchen classroom for this wonderful organization. I thought I would share some of the principles that make this program so special.
The Edible Schoolyard was founded by Alice Waters and the Chez Panisse Foundation. The goals of this program aim to strengthen the connection of seed to table education as well as empowering kids to be good stewards of the land.
If you ever have a chance to visit this beautiful schoolyard, please do!
Most recently KVMR’s new show See Jane Do featured Chef Ann who is also known as the renegade Lunch Lady in the Berkeley Unified School District. Read more about Chef Ann here!
I love to visit the Edible Schoolyard when I need to get a burst of inspiration. Amazing things are happening everywhere, and knowing about some really exceptional programs are great ways to keep the fires burning at home!
THE EDIBLE SCHOOLYARD
The Edible Schoolyard, in collaboration with Martin Luther King Junior Middle School, provides urban public school students with a one-acre organic garden and a kitchen classroom. Using food systems as a unifying concept, students learn how to grow, harvest, and prepare nutritious seasonal produce. Experiences in the kitchen and garden foster a better understanding of how the natural world sustains us, and promote the environmental and social well being of our school community.
Children learn about the connection between what they eat and where it comes from, with the goal of fostering environmental stewardship and revolutionizing the school lunch program.
Linking garden and kitchen activities with classroom lessons using ecological principles, students develop a deep understanding and appreciation of how nature sustains life.
Since the inception of The Edible Schoolyard, the school garden movement and the demand for fresh, organically produced foods has spread nationally. We are at a threshold of growth in the shift toward sustainable food systems – these resources may guide your involvement.
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