"It Is Easier to Build Strong Children Than To Repair Broken Men." Frederick Douglass
Atlanta, GA. With more children growing up behind a screen and in a city, one has to wonder what the future holds for agriculture. The UN World Health Organization predicts that by 2030, 6 out of 10 people will live in a city. With so many people living in cities and becoming disconnected with nature, the challenge is presented to farmers; to keep the traditions, values, and heirloom genes alive. In order to preserve agricultural integrity within a growing global system, children will need to be the focus of educational and engagement opportunities. Learning at a young age, the value of good food, can translate to an educated healthy adult, who cares enough to do something, even if it is to plant a few pots of tomatoes on a balcony of an apartment building. Its up to the emerging agricultural leaders, the farmers, the community to start teaching the seeds of ourselves, our children how to grow food.
Summer time offers a perfect opportunity for school-aged children to experience agriculture through education. During this season, many vegetables are harvested, fertilized and watered. And for those in optimal growing locations even some planting of seeds takes place. Regardless of the location, summertime offers a plethora of opportunity for children to get engaged in the growing of food and the culture of agriculture. Learning about healthy eating options, and nutrition is also a vital tool in the fight against childhood obesity. This is all evident when you visit the Truly Living Well Center's Summer Camp, in the Collegetown area on the westside of Atlanta. TLW has a tremendous and well-attended summer camp for the youth in the neighborhood and citywide. TLW has a unique approach, where they facilitate youth in the discovery of purpose and meaning. Take the "pizza garden" for example. The pizza garden is comprised of 4 small raise beds, that grow the necessary ingredients to make a pizza. So in the beds, you find basil, oregano, peppers and tomatoes.
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| Pizza Garden @ TLW |
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| Plants are grown in the shape of pizza |
The program provides hands on learning,which is a very important part of keeping youth engaged. As a teacher, I see younger students forced to sit still and in a chair for almost 2/3 of the year. Students are awarded for their complacency and ability to remain in their chairs, with their mouths closed. No wonder, we have high rates of childhood obesity and declining test scores nationwide. Experiential learning, or learning by doing, is the best method for youth to be engaged in their education and spur passion and commitment. Otherwise, our youth learn through rote and dialectic methods, that leave the youth completely passive, disengaged and often bored.
The solution; to teach our seeds to grow. Every summer when the youth are off from school, encourage a lifetime of learning, by getting them involved with agriculture. If your community offers a summer camp like TLW, sign them up for it. If not, then think about creating a similar program in your area. If that is not possible at this time, even starting a few seed packets in paper cups, can turn out to be an experience of a life time for the youth. Seeds teach us responsibility, commitment, empathy, and joy. So, give your seeds ( children) a huge advantage, teach your seeds to grow!
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| Rasheed Nuri With Children at the TRUELY LIVING WELL CENTER in Atlanta, GA |
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