There’s one thing that makes me happier than walking by urban gardens, and that’s walking by urban gardens tended by youths. The Edible Schoolyard has become a legendary success story. Founded over a decade ago by chef Alice Waters, this one-acre garden and kitchen classroom at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School in Berkeley, California has helped ignite a national dialogue on school lunch programs, health education, and sustainability for the next generation. In this Craftivism post, we’re sharing Principles of Edible Education along with a group-friendly recipe from Alice’s book, Edible Schoolyard. For this back to school season, Alice reminds us how much learning can happen outside of the classroom.
Principles of Edible Education
Food is an Academic Subject
A school garden, kitchen, and cafeteria are integral to the core academic mission of the school, so that ecology and gastronomy help bring alive every subject, from reading and writing to science and art.
School Provides Lunch for Every Child
From preschool through high school, every child is served a wholesome, delicious meal, every day. Good food is a right not a privilege. Providing it every day brings children into a positive relationship with their health, their community, and the environment.
Schools Support Farms
School cafeterias buy seasonally fresh food from local, sustainable farms and ranches, not only for reasons of health and education, but as a way of strengthening local food economies.
Children Learn by Doing
Hands-on education, in which the children themselves do the work in the vegetable beds and on the cutting boards, awakens their senses and opens their minds, both to their core academic subjects and to the world around them.
Beauty is a Language
A beautifully prepared environment, where deliberate thought has gone into everything from the garden paths to the plates on the tables, communicates to children that we care about them.
Recipe From the Edible Schoolyard Kitchen: Potato Smash With Kale
Mashing keeps many hands busy and the students like the taste and color of potato skins that are added to the “smash.” It is delicious made with sweet potatoes. Serves 6-8.
Boil 4 pounds of potatoes (unpeeled), until tender. Drain. Wash 3 bunches of kale, drain, remove the stems, and chop the leaves roughly. Measure 3/4 cup of milk. Peel 7 cloves garlic and chop fine. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large heavy skillet, add the chopped garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the kale and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Add a little water if the pan gets dry and the greens start to stick. While they are still warm, smash the cooked potatoes in a ricer or with a potato masher. Put into a large bowl and add the milk and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Add the cooked kale and stir well to combine.
One of my fondest childhood memories is munching on flower petals at a Brooklyn Botanic Garden family class. Do your kids help you out in the garden? Share in the comments below!
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99 comments
Sign in to add your ownjewelrybyjackie says:
This is wonderful! Lets hope that this initiative grows (no pun intended) by leaps and bounds!
2 years ago
ThePeachTree says:
fantaaaaastic :)
2 years ago
shantishanty says:
thanks for posting this article! i love alice waters and the whole urban garden movement!
2 years ago
foamywader says:
Delicious!
2 years ago
FrillyButts says:
mmmm...sounds good!
2 years ago
blueberryshoes says:
i miss my garden so much! i loved pulling up the carrots and the sound of snipping the chives for an omelette
2 years ago
pamwares says:
very cool!
2 years ago
redyellowandblueink says:
I love having such wonderful articles on Etsy about stuff going on in my backyard-I live in the Bay Area, CA. Alice Waters is a living legend out here. Thanks for the article. Nice to see kids involved with real food and loving it! Great item picks-nice bat house-I know the kids would love my Urban street upcycled bird feeders to. Keep growin and cookin your own!
2 years ago
spacejam says:
mmm.sounds really good =)
2 years ago
redyellowandblueink says:
oh ya-I LOVE their garden signs! especially the one that says "ground". All are as colorful as the beautiful produce they grew.
2 years ago
mamafamilias says:
:) Despite a black thumb, I love to garden with children! They take such pride in their success and mourn their loss with real pain. Then we all start planning for how to improve next year!
2 years ago
4TheSparrowsNest says:
Having taught students before, this looks like a terrific way to teach kids about the virtues of growing your own food, patience and hard work, the earth, and the environment. What a fantastic project!
2 years ago
paddyridge says:
I was fortunate to grow up gardening and preserving with my grandparents and parents on our farm. Today, in suburbia, my pathetic tomato plants in pots just don't seem to cut it. Thanks for the Alice Waters inspirational article. It's a good kick in the pants for me to get out to the local farmer's market and buy REAL FOOD!
2 years ago
LaveMeSoapCo says:
I watched that on tv. Great idea!
2 years ago
JoyandWhimsy says:
2 cool books on Gardening & Trees: IDENTIFICATION & HISTORY of NORTH AMERICAN TREES and their LEAVES http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12535775 GARDENING FOR KIDS 101 http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12509109
2 years ago
sandali says:
AWESOME article !! It was a fun & educational treat ;)
2 years ago
lovelygifts says:
Looks like a great idea to teach kids!
2 years ago
UglyBaby says:
I just spent the whole weekend in my little balcony garden. Thanks for helping me extend that into Monday with this article! If only they had programs like that where I grew up....those kids are so lucky.
2 years ago
SewnNatural says:
experiential learning + nature + healthy foods + sunshine.... what gets better than that?
2 years ago
BranchandBirdie says:
What a wonderful program! I know my kids love to garden and are much happier eating vegetables that they planted!
2 years ago
buttercupbloom says:
Alice Waters = My Idol
2 years ago
beachhouseblues says:
Alice Waters is sooo great!
2 years ago
maiziedesigns says:
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful story about a heartwarming iniative.
2 years ago
BlackStar says:
Alice Waters is an incredible woman!
2 years ago
pogoshop says:
I'm with you, Alice and Michelle! So many of our dear children are starved for nature and good food right now. I love the edible education trend and hope to see it flourish.
2 years ago
edor says:
happiness in the little things!
2 years ago
cravejewelrydesign says:
SO COOL!!!
2 years ago
JanuaryJaniesJewelry says:
What a wonderful program, hope this hands on education will spread to more schools.
2 years ago
recycledwares says:
I've been wanting to start a garden and I'm so jealous of this middle schooler for getting to do it at such an earlier age. Where was this class when I was young?
2 years ago
thelittlecrocodile says:
I hope hope hope more schools and communities start planting gardens!!!
2 years ago
tiffanyinthetrees says:
oh... thank you so much for this awesome post! i have loved alice waters and her edible garden project/ program since i first heard of two years ago! she's great... the program is wonderful... i'm a montessori teacher, like alice waters was, and my class has a garden in which all of the kids do the work... planting... weeding... harvesting... and then, we cook up the vegetables into soups for the local shelters. gardening with kids is the best! it really is! happy harvesting!
2 years ago
BabbidgePatch says:
Wonderful story ! Our kids all grew up helping out in our organic gardens and they each had their own sections to tend ~ besides eating from it, they had fun displaying their veggies and flowers in the local fairs.
2 years ago
TenderLetters says:
Alice Waters is such an inspiration to me as a teacher, gardener and lover of food! This is really the direction that we all need to move towards in our world! Empty lots and unused urban space break my heart. We all need to learn the language of beauty, growth, patience and care that Waters writes about. xoxoxox, Gina
2 years ago
bluepiedesigns says:
Love Alice Walters!..the world would be a better place if there were more like her and just think how different our world would be if everyone just grew a few veggies instead of buying at the store..we need to teach the next generation NOW...we don't really have the liberty of waiting anymore. Our future and health need us to act!
2 years ago
thebestvintage says:
Love this post! Alice Waters has made such a difference in the way people look at and prepare their food.
2 years ago
breadandroses2 says:
Great post! I don't know if it's the influence of Alice Waters but our local elementary school has an entire class devoted to gardening and a large vacant area of school property is now a flourishing garden. It's so important for all of us to have a greater awareness of where our food comes from and childhood is the best place to start!
2 years ago
wristielove says:
This is the sweetest thing ever. This weekend I came across one of the coolest urban gardens at Piedmont Park and decided to mosey on through. Turns out it was completely done by the kids at summer camp. It is so nice that Etsy reports on topics like this. A million hearts to Alice Waters & MLK Jr high. Thanks Michelle!
2 years ago
VixVintage says:
Alice Waters rocks, now if we only had a few hundred thousand of her...Thank you
2 years ago
TreeHuggerStudio says:
That's awesome!! I need to start something like this where I live.
2 years ago
livingstonandporter says:
Thank goodness for alice - she's something else! DIG the article!
2 years ago
topsyturvydesign says:
Alice Waters is an angel! I can't wait to make the Smash with Kale!
2 years ago
MODERA says:
Nice Article!
2 years ago
Iammie says:
Lovely!
2 years ago
evihan says:
soo useful articleee:-)
2 years ago
TheSecretKitchen says:
I love cooking home grown veggies - so flavorful! Even urbanites can have a garden - check out Square Foot Gardening.
2 years ago
MagneticCreations says:
Great story! I put in a raised vegetable garden this summer with the special needs kids at my school. It was not nearly the size of Alice's but the effects were astounding! Kids lined up to help just to have a piece of fresh lettuce or spinach to munch on. We also purchased a muscle powered mower, you should see them zip around with that, the best modivator ever to get your work done in the classroom and help in the garden!
2 years ago
Sudstress says:
I love this. There is a school near my home that began a small community garden this year. I hope to see more of things like this.
2 years ago
RonH says:
In an obese world where children are confronted with empty calorie fast food places on every corner, what could be better than teaching good nutrition, hard work, and an appreciation of Mother Earth. Kudos to those that garden and pass the joys on to the next generation.
2 years ago
MinceCo says:
feed your soul and get dirty :)
2 years ago
TalkingTree says:
I wish I had a green thumb! Fun stuff!
2 years ago
whiletangerinedreams says:
I love Alice Waters. She's mentioned in all my favourite publications. Her cookbook The Art of Simple Food is a daily read. She's amazing :)
2 years ago
starvingartistbazaar says:
Great story! My cousin got a grant to start a garden with her students in Tucson. What a wonderful way to teach children.
2 years ago
Fairyfolk says:
Excellent article... what magic a garden can give to kids. Blessings and magic.
2 years ago
babook says:
Hoping that i can joy too !! with those child It would be a good experience for cook .....
2 years ago
KiraFerrer says:
Wonderful article! Alice Waters is an inspiration!
2 years ago
galstudio says:
Great story! I love the signage!
2 years ago
threetree says:
I started a garden at our local elementary school this year. At this point it is pretty small but the kids LOVE it! They can't wait to make it bigger next year. The most surprising thing is that there hasn't been an ounce of vandalism. I don't know exactly why, but it seems that the kids and community want the garden to succeed.
2 years ago
paramountvintage says:
so fundamentally important to life. gardening is great for kids!!!
2 years ago
AnniesWearableArt says:
What a wonderful way to instill crucially important, lifelong values in children. Fantastic story!!
2 years ago
SimpleJoysPaperie says:
Wonderful article and school program! I think those of us that were raised and live in the country, take for granted the opportunities that we have to enjoy nature.
2 years ago
thecluelesscrafter says:
I am an avid cook living in NYC. This summer I successfully grew my own herbs and tomato plant. It is such a pleasure to grow and prepare your own food. This project will teach kids that work and pleasure can go hand in hand. I wish I was exposed to this lesson as a child.
2 years ago
MetroGypsy says:
Love my garden and this article! Truly a great read :)
2 years ago
edithweezie says:
What an absolutely fabulous idea- I wish more schools would/could adopt this program.
2 years ago
bytheway says:
I've been aware of Alice Waters' school projects for some time now and applaud her for teaching kids about the eartt, good stewardship and good eating.
2 years ago
StoneDesignsbySheila says:
This is great! Kids need to learn that food doesn't come from Mc Donalds! I love gardening.
2 years ago
icanspellit says:
So much CREATIVITY. I love it!!
2 years ago
underoakstudios says:
I wish more schools had programs like this. I grew up in the dirt grazing in the garden and I'm always amazed when other people have no experience growing their own food. In apartment life I jealously begrudge everyone with a little plot of earth who doesn't use it. I'm always going over to houses and saying you could have a wonderful garden here. I'm usually met with a blank stare. People don't know what they are missing. Programs like this can let everyone know how wonderful it can be to grow some of your own food, flowers and air. Http://www.Twitter.com/UnderOakStudios
2 years ago
theninestories says:
Grow your own food forever! In case you haven't read Masanobu Fukuoka's "The One-Straw Revolution" is a permaculture classic. Get your fingers on it here in free .pdf http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrary/01aglibwelcome.html
2 years ago
sineminugur says:
Lovely!
2 years ago
OYandM says:
and it has spread to New Orleans! Alice Waters in conjunction with the Recovery School Disctrict of New Orleans have two edible school yards at Samuel J. Green Charter and Arthur Ashe Charter. Both are k-6. Volunteering at Green Charter changed my life for the better. Great stuff. VERY PROUD!
2 years ago
michaelangela says:
I want a garden!
2 years ago
misaphia says:
Very cool!!
2 years ago
poprelique says:
Potato smash with kale? Yum.
2 years ago
Daisymaysipes says:
What a wonderful learning experience this is going to be for those kids. Props to all involved in the project!
2 years ago