Intangible Problem [Leigh Ann]

Intangible Problem:

The American public has lost the agricultural knowledge that used to sustain us. Children and adults do not understand the origins of their food, how or what elements effect the production of food, or what foods are native and seasonal in their geographical region. This problem is intangible because it has to do with knowledge; it is not a functional or systematic problem, but it is one that will effect the function of our bodies and our food system.

Solutions:

School Farm Programs: These programs educate children about growing food with hands-on experience. Kids get to see the progress from seed to food as they learn how to take care of plants and the land. Their experience in the garden is often reinforced throughout their curriculum in the classroom. In some programs, like the Edible Schoolyard, cooking the food they grow is also part of the learning experience.

Edible School Yard (Berkeley, CA)

Added Value (Red Hook Community Farm)

Ag in the Classroom (California)

Alemany Farm (San Francisco, CA)

Empowerment Through Food (Brooklyn, NY)

Community Garden Guide: Community gardens encourage people of all ages to come together and learn about growing. Especially in urban settings, it gives people who are typically more disconnected from nature a chance to experience working with the land. People are given a space to foster community, but they also have a space that teaches them first hand about the possibilities and limits of our environment.

ASG Grow Kit: This kit includes materials to build a garden bed, seeds for planting, tools for kids to help gardening, and curriculum materials for teaching about agriculture. This is an easy way to set up a smaller version of school farming program.

Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture: Stone Barns is a farm, education center, and restaurant that aims to promote community-based food production. By opening their doors to the public, people can visit and learn about the farm as well as participate in classes and workshops about food preparation.