Edible Schoolyard Second Posting

Edible Schoolyard Second Posting

Timeline

T: 10/23

Meeting with Joe at 11:00 A.M.

Group meeting from 11:20 to 12:15 concerning timeline and blog

Lunch @ 1:00/meeting with David about possible contacts

2:00 group meeting

W: 10/24

3:00 meeting with Joe

R: 10/25

Group meeting about second blog post morning and afternoon

Possible meeting with RD from Cone Hall and/or landscaping people/ACT office

Research at library in afternoon

T: 10/30

2^nd blog posting due

Possible meeting with Harris (RD from Cone Hall) or Lacy Nichols (RA from Cone)

Put together small presentation for Landscaping/funding etc.

12:00 meeting with Joe

Afternoon meeting with Jim Bryan (Landscaping)

Talk to B.R. about funding (esp. Parent Association grant)

R: 11/1

Meeting with Harris or Lacy (if not possible Tuesday)

FUNDING!!! Investigate all possible grants & opportunities for donations

Continue working on funding over weekend!

T: 11/6

Begin securing materials for Edible Schoolyard (e.g. seeds/plants, tools)

Start informing students in Cone about new project; get volunteers

Work on plan for Edible Schoolyard layout (input from Jim? and B.R.)

R: 11/8

Continue work from Tuesday

Group meeting about project presentation

T: 11/13

Possible planting/construction day

Continue work from previous week

Work on project presentation

R: 11/15

Possible planting/construction day

Finalize project presentation over weekend (KEEP SCHEDULES CLEAR)

T: 11/20

Practice Presentations!

Research

Does being involved in a produce/edible garden change what students eat?

Hypothesis: While many students at Appalachian State express that they feel that they should be eating healthier, organic, locally grown foods, the fact is that they do not have time. Many of the students at Appalachian have loaded schedules and in their time outside of class many turn to finishing homework assignments. It would not be in their interest to eat out of a garden when they have meal plans and food already prepared waiting for them to buy. It takes time to prepare food that is picked and while some may turn to it as a source for a snack, students most likely cannot sustain themselves on only food from a garden. Therefore, the vast majority of students would not change what they eat if they were involved in a community garden.

Evidence: For my evidence to support my hypothesis I interviewed students and asked them if they would change their diets if exposed to an edible garden. It was about 50/50 but I feel that on a larger scale there would be a majority that would continue their current eating habits. While edible schoolyards are being developed all over the country, our society has come to depend on industrial food that is produced on a much larger scale. The food that edible schoolyards produce has little chance of making it into the industrial food market when we can buy non locally in large amounts for cheaper than we could buying local organic food. America is a fast food nation just like Eric Schlosser says in his book. Fast food is a part of America that is so deeply embedded in our society that I feel, unfortunately will never change. We want whatever is easiest for us to do, and obviously it is much easier to go into Taco Bell or McDonald’s to grab a bite to eat than it is to spend time picking vegetables out a garden. Then there is the factor of all the time it takes to tend to a garden and the preparation time that goes into making a meal from scratch. So, therefore I stick strong to my hypothesis that no, being involved in a garden would not change the way that students eat.

“Well by having a garden, I would eat healthier foods which I grew. My only problem would be making time in my busy schedule to do so.”

-Matthew Johnson

“No it wouldn’t change what I eat because I will always eat what I do. I also just don’t like eating things straight out of a garden.”

-Brian McIndoo

“I would eat what I grew. I live off campus and have my own kitchen, so yes.”

-Randy Talent

“Yes, I love being involved in ESY. I love to garden and to eat what has been planted. The food taste much better and I also save money.”

-Donlee Likins

“No, because if it involves preparing food then I don’t feel its worth the time as long as there is a cafeteria”

-Swede Oppermann

“No vegetables sit well with me. I would not be able to sustain from a garden.”

-Cade Raper

“Yes, I try to eat healthy and organic whenever I can, so this would provide me with more opportunities to eat better and healthier.”

-Thomas Schlyy

Does being involved with a garden change a college student’s view of the food they consume?

Hypothesis: Being involved with a garden encourages college students to question their own food. It also makes them curious about gardening practices and helps them to realize how much effort really goes into the food they eat.

Evidence: According to the Edible Schoolyard website, they “learn about the connection between what they eat and where it comes from”. “Student participation in all aspects of the Seed to Table experience occurs as they prepare beds, plant seeds and seedlings, tend crops, and harvest produce. Through these engaging activities, students begin to understand the cycle of food production.” By being involved with all the different aspects of producing their own food, college students would gain a better understanding of food production and an appreciation for the work that goes into producing the food they eat every day. The Edible Schoolyard also helps students learn about eating healthy and the joys of growing their own food. The students can grow vegetables in the Edible Schoolyard and because they have grown the food themselves, the students are more likely to eat the healthy foods. “Alice Waters, a well-known California chef at Chez Panisse launched her "Edible Schoolyard" 10 years ago. Now her pilot program is going district-wide in Berkeley, Calif., to help kids make the connections between food and table, good planting and good eating.” College students have an even greater capacity for realizing the connections between gardening, eating and food production because they are starting to explore their own food options. College is often the first place that some people learn to cook and balance their own eating and health needs. “The idea behind the Edible Schoolyard--to address hunger and nutrition by helping children learn about agriculture and farming--is not unique to Berkeley. School gardens and farm-to-school programs are popping up in urban schools across the country. Districts from Harlem, N.Y., to Compton, Calif., are recognizing that partnerships with farmers, hospitals and other community institutions can support programs to reduce hunger and improve nutrition in low-income, urban settings.” This kind of high-level thinking and evaluation of the food system would be more understandable to college students because they are better at seeing the big picture. The knowledge that can be gained from learning to garden also contributes to being able to sustain oneself, especially when other food options are unavailable. The Edible Schoolyard program could also encourage students to volunteer more in the community; helping plant and maintain gardens for poorer people can reduce the money that they have to spend on food and can be very beneficial towards their overall health. As well, college students would be able to compare what they consume with some of the things they get from the garden and question things like Twinkies, which do not look like anything that could be grown. The garden would make them more curious about exactly where their food comes from too. They can follow the process of seeing their produce from the garden go to the kitchen and become part of a delicious meal. This could spark the desire to know where their other foods come from and even how their food was made.

Do college students have an interest in gardening and will it increase their appreciation for nature and outdoors?

Hypothesis: A majority of college students will be interested in gardening if it is convenient for them during a normal day. I think working with a garden on a daily basis will increase their appreciation for nature and being outdoors.

Evidence: According to the students I have talked to about their interest in gardening, approximately half stated they would be somewhat interested in doing some gardening as long as they got to use the crops for themselves. I think a good number college students will be interested in gardening especially if the garden is near their dorm and convenient for them to work in on their own time. We will talk with the students who are interested in working in the garden, which our group will aid in starting. Once the students learn about the benefits of growing your own food, such as the assurance of its cleanliness and cost efficiency there will be an increased interest in participating in the project. Working in the garden and growing crops from scratch will teach students to appreciate the food they eat. Growing their own food will give them a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. They will learn about the different techniques of gardening and grow to appreciate nature and the affects nature has on their garden. This garden will provide an outlet for students who are stuck inside for most of the day studying and doing homework. It will serve as an excellent stress relief to distract their minds from everyday problems. The garden will allow them to appreciate nature more by using gardening as a calming exercise so that they will associate it with peace and relaxation. Our group’s aspirations are for more college students to become involved with gardening and getting others involved as well by spreading the knowledge and benefits they have obtained with others around campus. Hopefully through this project all the dorms on campus will offer gardening as an activity and outlet for students to enjoy nature and the great outdoors.