In what seems like one of the most unpredictable turn of events in the food movement, DC public schools are leading the way in kicking sugary milk and cereals off of their menu. While it seems like a no-brainer for health reasons, it is a bold move.  I have a huge amount of respect for DC schools and their Healthy Schools Act, passed by the council earlier this year and funded in the 2011 budget.  For many of DC’s inner city children, the free (or reduced cost) meals they get at school are the best (and sometimes) only nutrition they get — so it’s important.  According to the Healthy Schools Act, DC has the highest rate of adolescent obesity in the nation and  in some neighborhoods, half of the children are overweight or obese.

With obesity, diabetes, and other health issues on the rise it seems like DC may be just the first of many school systems who will eventually do the same.    For kids, having to choose sugary milk or that is the best nutritional choice is too big a decision with too much freedom.  As parents we would be considered irresponsible if we let our children watch whatever TV shows and movies they want without regards to the content. Why would we do the same with food?

One of the best things about DC Public Schools Healthy Schools Act is that it is clearly spelled out that this program will establish a school gardens program and competitive grants in order to both educate kids and make eating vegetables more appealing.  My elementary-school-aged kids, who are pesca-vegatarian (ie we are vegetarian but we eat fish), and who don’t eat HFCS, food coloring or artificial sweeteners, LOVE vegetables. But I would never serve them processed, canned, trucked-in, or unripe fruits and vegetables that are often served in the school cafeteria. To be honest, I wouldn’t want to eat them either. I know first-hand — in order to get kids to like veggies, you have to give them the best: fresh, local, in-season, organic produce.  And, you have to give them choices. One of my children likes spinach, peppers & cucumbers, and berries — the other doesn’t, but she loves carrots & peas –which the first one won’t eat.  They both pretty much love any other vegetable they come across as long as they know it is fresh and grown locally, without pesticides.

Plus, nutritionally the canned green beans they serve at schools pale in comparison to the just picked fresh raw green beans that my kids are eating in their lunch.  How silly is it that in our culture,  my children are teased because they think peas or spinach are yummy! How strange that my child’s teacher asks if he has a medical problem becuase I won’t let him eat petroleum-based food dyes typically found in many children’s foods — like strawberry milk or Froot Loops.

Blogger, and former Post Reporter, Ed Bruske, who scooped local media to make the announcement, has lots of other great commentary on his blog. If you care about these issues, take the time to read it, you’ll be glad you did.

Here at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, we know how important it is to have good nutrition — with plenty of locally grown vegetables  — even if you can’t find the time to garden or shop at the local farmer’s market.   That is why we started the Community Kitchen Garden with the help of the Community Foundation. Our goal (and we nearly met it last year) is to grow 10,000 lbs of fresh local vegetables for the areas neediest families — those that depend on the Central Virginia FoodBank, Meals on Wheels and partnering daycare organizations that provide food to low income citizens and families.  And so far, it seems to be working.

Back in DC,  The Washington Post‘s Mike DeBonis points out that much of the hard work for DCPS is yet to come:

It’s one thing to take away patently unhealthy choices from schoolkids; it’s another to add new, healthy choices.

And, he’s got a point. But if you ask me, getting the freshest local food and training the staff not to overcook it — but to let its fresh flavor stand on its own is half the battle.

And,this move, coupled with Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign and her school garden initiative along with the White House Garden gives me hope.

Meanwhile, here in Richmond, not only are we incredibly lucky to have the great partnering organizations  in the Community Kitchen Garden project but also we have urban garden advocate Tricycle Gardens. Together with passionate parents at local elementary schools, and organizations like Farms to Schools, there is no where to go but up in our children’s nutrition.  And when I hear whispers at my children’s elementary school that the parents are going to rally, and get a garden planted and get a grant for a salad bar to be built to serve the fresh local veggies that the kids will grow themselves. I don’t doubt for a second that they’ll do it — because times are changing.

Image credit: http://betterdcschoolfood.blogspot.com/2010/06/dc-schools-to-discontinue-flavored-milk.html

Photo courtesy of Ed Bruske

Although I was very tempted to write a blog post about how playing in the dirt can make you smarter and less depressed (as reported in new research this week), instead I’m going to write about how in so many ways, Gardening is becoming cool again. Not that it ever wasn’t cool.  But in today’s over scheduled, overworked,  fast-food,  American culture — for a while, gardening fell victim to our busy lifestyles. So many households have two working parents,  who come home exhausted and feeling lucky if they fit in a trip to the gym during the day, and who often depend on someone else to prepare their family’s dinner, it seems gardening somehow became seen a luxury. And shopping at the grocery store or eating out became standard, even with rich soil right in your back yard.

Ryan Smartt's pug, Deacon, and a hot pepper.

Scott Pharr's beer battered stuffed squash blossoms.

But, that was before the GardenWars Started. Yes, you heard me — #GardenWars! Three pioneering Richmonders, John Sarvay (of Floricane and Buttermilk & Molasses), Ryan Smartt (of ConnectRichmond), and Scott Pharr (of PharrOut and RVANews) face off each week in a duel to see which of them can earn the most votes (vote by comment) for their photos and “clever(ish)” commentary on their own backyard agricultural efforts. We are talking blooms, beer battered squash blossoms, graphic photos of cucumbers, and piles of green beans topped with a rubber ducky. We are talking green kale shakes, toddlers who can’t control their vegetable-eating impulses and puppy dog eyes.

John Sarvay's harvest

I asked Ryan Smartt how GardenWars came to be: “Scott, John and I were talking smack on Twitter one day about what we’re growing/have grown this year. RVANews came up with the idea of making the smack-talk public, mix in some pictures and create a little competition out of it….There’s an inexplicable satisfaction in planting a seed in the ground, watching it grow, taking care of it, and then eventually eating the fruits of my labor.”

Scott Pharr explains, “[The] most rewarding part for me has been watching others take part in this fun little competition, even feel inspired to plant their own gardens, and of course just watching both Smartt and Sarvay as they continue to BRING IT every week”

John Sarvay offers some insight, “It’s one area of my life where I don’t actually have a clue what I’m doing – that, and parenting – and it doesn’t seem to matter. Every time something dies, I just put something else back in the ground! I’m terrible at it, and get really excited when something actually works – and I end up with eight pounds of green beans a week.”

John Sarvay's daughter, Thea, with copious amounts of green beans.

For me, the #GardenWars seems like a trend of something bigger. A trend where smart, witty men move the one-up-manship from the basketball court to the backyard and from the poker table to the kitchen table.  Or, as Scott Pharr says, “…don’t all manly men love gardening?”

“I feel that if, down the road, we could make Garden Wars into something bigger and better…an annual event that has a truly positive impact on the community….well, THAT would be something!” Smartt says.

And, well, what if playing in the dirt does make you smarter? Maybe this is a bandwagon we should all jump on. For those of you who don’t have time to commit to a garden of your own, you can always “Drop in and Dig” with the kids at Lewis Ginter Botancial Garden — Wednesday mornings, June 23 – September 8, 9 – 11 a.m. or during Families After 5  on  July 20 and August 17, 6 – 8 p.m.  It just might make you smarter and happier! Or, you can volunteer at our Community Kitchen Garden on Monday or Saturday mornings from 9 am to noon.  All produce from the Community Kitchen Garden is donated to Meals on Wheels of Central Virginia & the Central Virginia Food Bank. The Community Kitchen Garden also accepts surpluss vegetables from private vegetable gardens on Monday and Saturday mornings.