The Learning Benefits Of Teaching Your Child To Keep A Vegetable Garden

Dec 19, 2018 by apost team

Nowadays, many of us take for granted what we eat, thanks to instant access to an abundance of food. We have supermarkets with produce sourced from all over the world, and even services that allow you to have food delivered directly to your door, eliminating the need to leave home.

This globalization of the food industry has had positive effects in that it has allowed us to purchase foods we wouldn't otherwise have access to, like tropical fruits. However, there are drawbacks to this international produce market.

The carbon emissions created during transport are bad for the environment, and chemicals used by the food industry can have questionable effects on individual health. These and other factors have shifted focus on a new movement-- G.I.Y., or grow it yourself.

At a middle school located in the Netherlands, students are taught to garden with the help of teachers and volunteers. They learn how to plant seeds, water properly, remove weeds, and harvest the final product. According to Rimkje, the coordinator of CityFarm Grifstede, people are removed from nature, especially in urban environments.

The time spent in the garden teaches kids how much work goes into what they ultimately consume, thus teaching them the value of their food.

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In addition to valuable life skills, kids develop a greater fondness for foods they may have previously avoided. Locally grown food also tastes better since it can be picked at the peak of its freshness and grown without the use of commercial chemicals.

Being a part of nature can also have a variety of positive effects on kids. Growing food themselves motivates children to eat better and inspire their families to do the same, with many going on to start gardens in their own homes. Kids learn to solve problems and overcome fears such as insects and other creepy crawlers found out in the nature. All this can also lead to improved focus in the classroom.

There is more to our children's well being than academics, Teaching them how to live happier and healthier lives is essential.

How can you do the same in your own community? Do you have access to a local garden? If not, how about starting one? Spread this post to others to promote better health and a happier community. Together, we can bring about positive change in the world, we simply need to have the courage to grow it ourselves.