posted by Elisa Freeling
Gia de Picciotto is an American who has lived in west London since 2001, when she came here from New York as a corporate communications executive. Passionate about food since she was a small child, it was when she had her first son that Gia realised food meant wellness: if she fed her family seasonally and nutritiously, she would keep her family’s immune systems strong and the whole family healthy. But she soon discovered not all parents seemed to be aware of the importance of good food to children’s well-being—which led her to start the Edible School Garden project. Gia has just launched a new Edible School Garden website, and she gave WLM the scoop on her quest to help all kids eat healthy.
What is the Edible School Garden?
The Edible School Garden comprehensive program teaches pupils where food comes from, and that food from the earth can taste good and make you feel good. They are learning that these choices can transform their health and the health of our planet. We build gardens through which children are provided with hands-on learning experiences. Kids get their hands dirty learning how to grow and maintain a variety of organic fruits, vegetables and grains. The school kitchen, with the help of the fabulous school chefs or caterers, incorporates the harvest into school lunches. We believe that educating our children means growing from the roots.
What inspired you to start this project?
I recall my mother and grandmother sprinkling wheat germ on everything we ate to make it more nutrient-dense—I suppose that’s today’s equivalent of chia seeds! When I became a mother, it very much surprised me that so few people were concerned about what their children ate. This inspired me to start the Edible School Garden project in London’s independent schools. Every child has a right to healthy eating. In our fast-paced, grab-and-go culture, this is about going back to basics. I planted a garden in the playground of my children’s school in Notting Hill. The children participated—and continue to participate—in all aspects, the teachers have built curriculum around it and the kitchen is incorporating the harvest into school lunches. The children are learning to make healthy choices and taking this from school to home to their social lives. As a result, some are educating their parents as well.
Why focus on independent schools?
The state schools are far ahead of the independents when it comes to educating about nutrition and where food comes from. Thanks to School Food Matters and the School Food Plan, food education is back on the national curriculum in England for September 2014. There are also organisations already working with state schools in this area, such as Trees for Cities and Jamie Oliver’s Kitchen Garden Project.
Independent schools are not obligated to follow the national curriculum, so many don’t include this food information in what they teach. But London’s independent schools have an opportunity to be at the forefront of a national movement that aims to have all children “understand food and nutrition and, where possible, have opportunities to learn to cook”. If our children in independent schools are not knowledgeable about what is on the food policy agenda, we are falling short.
How does the “big brother” program with state schools work?
Because they can afford it, each independent school that signs up chooses a state school to “big brother”—this is a key component of the program. It means they raise funds for a state school that doesn’t have an Edible School Garden. For example, pupils at Southbank International School established an Edible School Garden and then raised money for one at St Paul’s Primary in Tower Hamlets. We’re raising awareness and growing across the schools community, both independent and state.
What are some of the obstacles you’ve faced with the program?
I’ve had to work hard to engage both parents and heads of school. And of course budgeting is always a challenge, but what we’ve all learned is that there are so many different ways to create an Edible Garden to accommodate large and small spaces, big and small budgets, in order for this to be accessible to all!
How many schools are participating in the scheme?
We now have three schools running with two others in negotiation. Additionally, the largest group of independent schools in the UK has given a sum of funds to each of their schools for an Edible School Garden.
How can parents get involved?
My goal is to roll this out to as many independent schools as possible as soon as possible. Parents can join my campaign for more nutritious school meals, and help fundraise for an Edible School Garden in their school.
For more information, visit the Edible School Garden.
