Planting vegetable seeds in a peat pot to grow seedlings.
To witness something grow is to witness a miracle unfolding, we find that especially true in gardening.
To watch a tiny seed, as one student said, “that looks like dirt” sprout into a plant that grows into herbs and vegetables that feed us, is a miraculous phenomenon! Students engaged in this project, learned how to grow vegetables they like in their home setting, since they don’t have transportation, or access within the heart of the city or their community.
Now can be the time to venture into a Seed Sow project of your own! Use a gallon jug, some good potting soil, peat pots, a few seeds, then carefully water, place in a warm and well lit location, to then imagine the results…
One year, high school students participated in “Nurturing Nature” activities, which grew from a Peace Garden project we championed the year before which focused on mental health and was led by students.
Did you know:
• Urban food deserts are areas that lack access to fresh, healthy food, often to the lack of grocery stores nearby. This causes a negative impact on the mental health of teenagers, due to the stress and frustration of not having nutritious food readily available and affordable.
o Mental health impact: stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem can arise from not being able to eat a healthy diet
o Teenagers: Particularly vulnerable as they are developing physically and mentally (affecting mood and cognition and can also lead to isolation and low self-esteem
As we discussed the limited affordable options to fresh, healthy vegetables, they made a connection to choices they had in learning more about how “food deserts” can be overcome from an individual and family perspective. Some decided they wanted to learn how to have an herb, “salsa,” or “sauce” garden, or grow cucumbers, squash, and melons they could transplant in their back yard or porch. They shared what they learned or plants they grew with family, friends, and community centers.
Here is an example of the steps to take as an educator, parent, or community advocate.
We partnered with our local public high school in Rochester, New York, and looked at Business, Career and Trade, Principles of Marketing, and Entrepreneur elective classes to identify interested students.
The Entrepreneur and Principles of Marketing classes were interested in exploring “Nurturing Nature” methodologies, to better understand gardening basics. Learning how herbs and vegetables are grown, using a 4-H in the classroom methodology, they looked to grow the plants used to create their favorite foods. They agreed, as a part of their coursework, their ideas and business approach, were a part of the grading rubric with specific activities and timelines. Some ideas were transformed into specific tasks assigned to specific students or teams, or a custom projects focused on their interests and goals to ensure engagement.
As they imagined different models of “Entrepreneurship” we found our local Home Depot store to generously donate the seeds, soil, grow containers and other necessary supplies to launch their idea.
Through growing vegetable and herb plants from seed, this project led to the creation a Nurturing Nature club, that any student could attend, that met during lunch. This created inter-peer relationships in working together along with meeting other teens with a shared vision.
As their seedlings and skills grew into new relationship skills, so did their confidence. As they acquired meaningful life skills, they shared their success and extra plants with their friends and neighbors.
In May, their plants became gifts to mom and grandma, neighbors, and those that helped to nurture them. In June, as school ended all the plants had found new homes and caretakers.
#AgricultureandFoodProduction #Education #SocioEconomicAwareness #HealthyFood
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We Are “Multi-Generational
For the first time in history, there are five generations in the workplace. They are:
- Traditionalists – born 1925 to 1945
- Baby Boomers – born 1946 to 1964
- Generation X – born 1965 to 1980
- Millennials – born 1981 to 2000
- Generation Z – born 2001 to 2020
- Generation Alpha – born 2020 the first born entirely in the 21st century
Each generation bring a variety of skillsets and experience that can lead to innovative concepts encompassing solutions for organizations, living arrangements, and family structures. Realtors now face the challenge of finding dwellings that accommodate multiple generations. From business perspectives to families understanding core values, work ethic, communication preferences, feedback preferences, as well as stereotypes provides useful insight moving forward.
