By Joe Durand
I decided to become a $20monthly donor this year after many years of volunteering and being a donor fromtime to time. After participating in just about every aspect of GTGKprogramming and organizational activities, two things stands out to me as absolutelyworth supporting in a much larger way.
First, it’s about the relationship between kids and food that GTGK nurtures. Relationship at GTGK is more than about giving kids interesting taste experiences, it’s more than provisioning healthy food programs at school (goodness knows how important that is) and it’s more than introducing kids to farmers who produce our food and are so committed feeding us all.
It’s therelationship between the plant and the child, the plant (in hand) to mouthinteraction in the garden, with the food that they grow, that’s so important.One of the cool things GTGK does with the little ones is to plant a sweet andsour garden, Sorrel and Stevia (Stevia is 40 times sweeter than sugar, andSorrel is known as “sour-leaf”) so that the kids are encouraged to taste bothplants in the garden. The same is true for cherry tomatoes, mouse melons andbasil and all others. They learn first hand (pun intended) that food is grown,how it tastes when fresh, what its texture is, raw or sometimes cooked.
I met a GTGKgraduate a few years ago who was effusive about her experience in the GTGK gardenprogram.. She said that it shaped her so she became that person in her familyand circle of friends who was always open to trying new foods, new tastes andcuisines. Recently I met this same person and she was excited to tell me shehad started a catering business here in Toronto, and she linked it back tothose early experiences of growing, preparing and tasting food in the GTGKgardens. I support GTGK because I support kids knowing where their food comesfrom, how it tastes and how to grow it. Many other food organizations areamazing at provisioning, showing, introducing foods but GTGK fosters therelationship which is the key, I think, to lasting healthy choices.
Secondly – It’s not about dirt, cuz dirt is inert. It’s soil! It’s alive!
One of thegreat moments for me as a GTGK volunteer is seeing kids when they learn soil isalive and not dirt. Dirt is the stuff on your shoes, in the gutter. Soil isfull of microbes, bacteria, fungi, insects and WORMS!! Yes WORMS!! All kidslearn about composting, about taking leftover food and organic waste andturning it into soil. They see the buckets of cafeteria scraps go into the binand weeks later they turn out fresh black soil! Along the way they examine it,find the worms and insects, and see the whitish fungi growing. For some it’sthe first time they see a worm or any insect other than a fly, and there’s lotsof “Eww-“ ing and “grossing out”. As they get older they learn about what theworms do, and they learn about the role of microbes and the thermophilic compostactions. What’s that, you say? When waste decomposes it creates heat. In thefall and winter kids go outside to the compost bins , lift the lid and whenthey mix it a cloud of steam escapes. They can put their hands into the compostbin and feel the heat. Because making soil is an active, living process. Youcan see the lights go on, the connections being made. They get taught healthyliving tasty plants need healthy living soil. As they grow they learn about thesoil food web, nutrient cycling, about nitrogen and carbon and their interplayin building soil.
I am supportingthe GTGK 20/20 campaign because Green Thumbs provides children and youth thehands-on opportunities they need to grow healthy and respect the soil thatgives life!
Joe Durand, a founding board member and #1 volunteer
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