As every parent knows, young children don’t need much of a push to go and play in the dirt. Once they’re shown how it’s done, it’s not surprising that kids dig gardening. Besides, it’s good for them.
Study after study has confirmed the benefits of getting out in the sun, soaking up some healthy vitamin D and lowering levels of stress and anxiety. Also, in these germophobic times, it’s easy to forget that playing in the dirt actually boosts young immune systems.
Best of all, it’s fun. Nature-based programs build children’s confidence and promote personal development — and they learn without even realising they’re being taught.
First launched in Scandinavia in the 1960s, such programs have long been popular in European schools. An early adopter here was celebrity chef Stephanie Alexander, who says it was her “preoccupation with the way children do, or do not, learn about food” and where it comes from that led her to develop her Kitchen Garden Foundation.
The gardening and cooking program for kids began at Melbourne’s Collingwood College in 2001 and, over the past two decades, has grown to include more than 1400 schools throughout Australia.
The essence of the project is that children will happily study food when they follow its story “from seed to plate”, first learning how to grow it organically before cooking and eating it.
Students start with planting seeds, weeding, composting and harvesting. They learn about plant and insect life cycles, how to work safely with tools and how to care for chickens.
Bu hikaye Good Organic Gardening dergisinin Good Organic Gardening #11.4 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Good Organic Gardening dergisinin Good Organic Gardening #11.4 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Glamour girls
EVERYONE LOVES A HARDWORKING ISA BROWN BUT GET A LOAD OF THESE CHIC CHICKENS AND FEATHERED FASHIONISTAS
FRIED VEG
IT’S POSSIBLE TO ENJOY A FRY-UP IN A DELICIOUSLY HEALTHY WAY BY TURNING TO SOME FRY-FRIENDLY PLANTS
BEYOND BIG RED
TOMATOES COME IN ALL SHAPES, SIZES AND COLOURS, SO NOW’S THE TIME TO EXPLORE THEIR INFINITE VARIETY
EVEN MORE TROPPO
ANOTHER SENSATIONAL SIX TO CONSIDER FOR YOUR GARDEN — OR YOUR FRUIT SALAD
LET'S STALK RHUBARB
JUST AS TOMATO IS A FRUIT USED AS A VEGETABLE, RHUBARB IS A VEGETABLE COMMONLY CONSUMED AS A DESSERT
FOOD OF THE GODS
THE FLESHY FRUIT OF THE FICUS WAS MUHAMMAD’S FAVOURITE AND BUDDHA FOUND ENLIGHTENMENT UNDER A FIG TREE
MAKING GOOD BETTER
THE IRREPRESSIBLE TV PRESENTER WRITES ABOUT HOW SHE, WITH HUSBAND ANTON AND DAUGHTER FRIDA, TURNED A STEEP HOBART BLOCK INTO A PRODUCTIVE GARDEN
True lily
MANY PLANTS ARE CALLED LILIES BUT IT’S THE MEMBERS OF THE GENUS LILIUM THAT ARE THE REAL DEAL
SALTY BUDS
THE CAPER BUSH PRODUCES TWO DISTINCT BUT EQUALLY DELICIOUS, TANGY MORSELS: CAPERS AND CAPERBERRIES
Ducks on duty
BUSY, VIGILANT, HARD ON GARDEN PESTS AND GENEROUS LAYERS — YOU’VE GOTTA LOVE A DUCK!