I made a voluntary visit to Edible Schoolyard and was not compensated for my time.
I couldn't have asked for a better day to visit Edible Schoolyard NYC on Friday. The sun was finally shining and it was actually really warm but it felt SO good to be outside and what better way to soak up some vitamin D than hanging out in a large, edible garden?
Edible Schoolyard
If you are unfamiliar with Edible Schoolyards, let me fill you in. They are a non-profit organization on a mission to educate children and to transform their relationship with food. ESYNYC partners with New York City public schools to provide gardening education and hands-on cooking classes.
Alice Waters brought her vision to life in Berkley, California in 1995, founding the Edible Schoolyard Project. The goal was to implant the edible program into school's everyday curriculum to increase awareness and teach children about the connections between food, health and the environment.
Edible Schoolyard
How awesome is that? I think it is a privilege to have a garden, let alone in NYC where many of us do not have the land to grow one. Knowing where your food is coming from and watching it grow is so special and I personally don't think it should be taken for granted. I have previously counseled adults who have never tasted a fresh vegetable before. I know what some of you may be thinking - how is that possible??
Edible Schoolyard
Well, two things come to mind: lack of fresh produce accessibility and education separation. I understand that fresh produce can be more expensive vs say canned or frozen. Not to say that eating canned or frozen vegetables is "bad", if that's the only way to consume your daily intake, I fully support that. Whatever you need to do to make it work.
The other piece is the education gap. If you did not grow up eating fresh vegetables and were not informed on the positive impact it can have on your health, how would you know to eat them? You wouldn't really know the importance. This is where educators come in to help spread the word. Places like Edible Schoolyards are changing that everyday. Lets continue educating while they are young.
Edible Schoolyard
They also have a composting section in the garden where nothing goes to waste. The students learn about sustainable practices like how we can help our environment thrive.
Edible Schoolyard
Edible Schoolyard
The garden is also filled with fruit trees, including Bing cherry and Asian pear! I love the variety of produce being grown here. It is never a bad idea to branch out and try new flavors and unfamiliar foods.
Edible Schoolyard
I picked off and tried out some fresh mustard greens and they were honestly so tasty! You can really taste the difference in flavor and the quality of fresh lettuces. And don't worry, I was told I could pick and sample ;)
"94% of NYC children don't eat enough vegetables" - Edible Schoolyard NYC.
Edible Schoolyard
Cooking classes are held inside of the classroom using seasonal produce and ingredients. Students learn how to cook and incorporate produce from the garden. These students come from over 50 cultural backgrounds and I was so happy to hear that they make a different ethnic dish from each and every one of these cultures.
Some areas of the garden that I didn't capture included the greenhouse and chickens (and baby chicks). During colder months, garden classes are held inside but now that the weather is finally nice, they have classes outdoors in the garden.
Edible Schoolyard
The Edible Schoolyard NOLA was one of my favorite rotations during internship at Tulane and it will always hold a special place in my heart. I witnessed students' eyes opening up to the reality surrounding the positive impact the garden had on their environment, health and relationships with food. I'd like to personally thank the team of Edible Schoolyard NYC for hosting my visit and allowing me to share this experience with all of you!
I hope you have a great week and happy Monday!
xoxo