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Seed-to-plate curriculum at Desert Marigold School
Posted on Fri, September 25, 2009 by Jerusha Klemperer
5 Comments | Categories: Farms and Farming, School Food, Take Action,
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by Youth Programs Intern Heather Teige
Slow Food USA will profile a number of our 2008 Slow Food in Schools Micro-Grant recipients in the coming months. Look out for these profiles, along with best practice suggestions for Slow Food in Schools projects from our 2008 Micro-Grant recipients, which will be housed on the Youth Programs page this fall.
Desert Marigold School in Phoenix, Arizona is a charter school that firmly believes in using an interdisciplinary approach to educate its students. And so, it’s no surprise that five years ago they partnered with Slow Food Phoenix to establish a 5,000 square foot garden to formalize their commitment to hands-on learning. The teaching garden program focuses mostly on farming and food preparation, but hopes to expand its curriculum and give students a broader and more complete view of the seed-to-plate process by building a fully sustainable outdoor kitchen.
What started off as an in-school garden will come full circle after the kitchen is built. The outdoor kitchen will be fully functional and is expected to prepare lunch for all of Desert Marigold School’s 200 students. The program looks forward to having their student’s witness the fruits of their labor by letting them eat and delight in what they’ve grown. Through the collaborative efforts of the school, local farmers, and chefs, the students will be given a tangible education about where their food comes from, how to prepare it healthily, and how to turn their kitchen’s leftovers into compost for the garden soil.
The project is now a reality through Slow Food USA’s 2008 Slow Food in Schools Micro-Grant, the volunteer help of a local architect, and private donations. Still, construction has yet to begin. Unanticipated Arizona state budget cuts have halted progress on the outdoor kitchen’s construction, but the school continues—undeterred—to work towards its goal.
Member Comments
From connie cohen on Wed, October 14, 2009
please send school address (I winter in AZ)
And I suggest seeking donations specifically from locals in states/cities for new micro school projects like this
From Desdra Dawning on Wed, October 14, 2009
Your school is inspiring! I would like to visit and participate, possibly, with your program in some way. I am a retired educator, wintering in the valley, in Queen Creek. Where is the school located? Please send contact info. I would, at the very least, love to come by for a visit.
Thanks, Desdra Dawning
928-707-1738
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
From Tacey on Thu, October 15, 2009
I love this. As a mother and someone who loves to garden I would like more information about how this project got started. If there is anything similar in my
area I would like to be a part of it.
From Desdra Dawning on Tue, January 12, 2010
In mid-October, I wrote a comment on this blog, along with two others. It appears that there has been no response to any of us in the last three months. This is frustrating. I wanted to visit this school, and I can’t even find it in the phone book! Is anyone out there?
From Julia on Wed, January 20, 2010
I’m glad to see that so many people are inspired by the great work happening with the Desert Marigold Slow Food in Schools project. We can’t share member contact information so I have passed your comments on to the project leaders and have encouraged them to get in touch. If others are interested in being connected, feel free to email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Thanks!
