Eastside Explorers of San Jose´ found nature in their neighborhood
These seeds are so tiny…
Yes, they truly belong to the soil
As one picked up the seed, one churned in the soil. And the students kept on sowing, dreaming of their baby lettuces.
Last Wednesday, 29 eighth-graders of Ocala STEAM Academy visited Veggielution for our first Eastside Explorers event. This was also the first time on a farm for some of them.
We walked them through the golden cornfield, greenhouses and youth garden, taking in all of autumn. Seeing the cute little sprouted herbs, the students could not hide their excitement. They were later invited to taste our saltbush and freshly harvested tomatoes. “Oh juicy, I like it!”, rejoiced one student. Needless to say, the kids were in awe.
Spotting cage-free chickens on the farm, a student — Brisa, wondered: “Are you gonna eat them in your cooking classes?”. As responsible adults, this really made us think. Our answer to that question would leave a lasting imprint in their mind. At Veggielution’s First Saturdays, our cooking class only produces veggie dishes, using homegrown fruits and vegetables. The kids seemed content, as we can share the ground with our animals in peace.
Later on, the love chemicals for farming really kicked in when two groups were put into a composting contest. An easy formula was introduced to help them remember: Air+Water+Brown Plants+Green Plants+Soil=COMPOST! It was so fun to watch our little farmers putting on colorful gloves and shoveling food scraps around. Enthusiasm of the kids and mid-day San Jose sun heated up the field.
At last, we all gathered in the green dome to learn about bioaccumulation. It surprised the kids (and me) how simple it actually was. The herbicides’ chemicals accumulated through the plants and animals that we eat not only affect our health but also our ecosystem. It’s a small action that goes a long way. This explains why Veggielution and many conscious farmers are sticking to sustainable farming methods.
The students at Ocala don’t get to go on field trips very often. Even though their school is just 2 miles away, they barely know of an open space like ours in the neighborhood. This story makes me feel nostalgic. Back in Vietnam where I grew up, students in the city barely have a chance to connect with nature due to the tight schedule of classes. Their scientific knowledge is not realized in the open fields and their sense of community is becoming isolate. It hurts to imagine that one day kids might not know where our food come from nor feel belong in their own neighborhood.
Eastside Explorers has long been a brainchild of our Youth Program Manager — Jen Aguilar. Thanks to the generous support of our funders, the program was finally brought to life, helping kids connect to the community and nature.
Check out Jen’s blog post about the mission of Eastside Explorers program here.
Written by My Pham — Social Media & Storytelling Intern at Veggielution.
Eastside Explorers is generously support by Applied Materials Foundation.
