Want to Teach Kids About Food? Make Them Grow Their Own.

In Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley, community farms are giving students hands-on opportunities to learn about nutrition, biology and food production. Many of the city schools in the area have implemented school gardens, and teachers collaborate with farmers to expose students to agriculture on a larger scale. The educational programs embrace the valley’s agricultural heritage and get more local food into school cafeterias and students’ homes. Kids are not only learning  to cultivate plants and understand life cycles, but also trying healthy foods they may not have eaten before. An added bonus: the experiential learning gets students physically active as they dig, weed, water and plant. Talk about a fresh idea.