What results from merging incredible vision, a passion for culinary exploration, and an empty asphalt lot next to Martin Luther King Jr Middle School in Berkeley, CA? The Edible Schoolyard (ESY), an organic edible garden and kitchen classroom that incorporates food concepts into the school curriculum for practical training and learning throughout the year.
A tour provided our team with an up-close look at the people and operations, along with a deep respect for the individual who initiated it all. That individual is Alice Waters, the esteemed pioneer of the original sustainable, local food movement and owner of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, CA.
At a basic level, it might seem like "it's just gardening or cooking" (for anyone who's ever taken a Home Economics class – this is not the case!). The truly fascinating aspect here is that students are not merely learning WHAT to eat; they are learning how to create – and cultivate – the things they will consume. The row of corn in the garden will likely end up on a student's plate, having been prepared by fellow students. Additionally, students receive comprehensive training in knife skills and kitchen tools to master the fundamentals (e.g., "how not to cut yourself with an extremely sharp knife").
Ultimately, it's truly ingenious. Rather than instructing kids with "do this, don't eat that," the Edible Schoolyard team encourages them to "eat more greens, here's how to include them in your meals – and enjoy them too!" It's certainly a carrot (an organic one, at that) rather than a stick approach.
I’m not sure if this is exactly what Alice Waters intended but it surely struck a chord with me. The program participants will leave middle school with extensive food knowledge and beyond-basic cooking skills they will carry - and share - throughout life. As corny as it sounds, the seeds have been planted and it will be interesting to see the proliferation of this knowledge.
Perhaps in 5-10 years an edible schoolyard program in each city across the US will become the norm rather than the exception. I think the folks at Chez Panisse are on to something here?!
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