The Lessons of School Gardens Autumn is an intern with Earth Day
Network's Education Team. Sadly, most kids these days rarely set
foot outside. They might say, “What’s the point, when we have
munchies, cable TV, and a computer with Facebook and Youtube?”
School gardens give kids a reason to go outside and get much-
needed vitamin D, while discovering that maybe it’s not so bad
to get their hands a little dirty. Planting school gardens not
only shows kids they can grow food right in their own backyards,
it teaches them how to do it. Think for a moment about how eager
kids are to eat whatever it is that they make themselves. How do
you think they would react if given the chance to eat or cook
with plants they’ve grown themselves? They’re more likely to
feel comfortable with food they grow themselves and consequently
make healthier, fresher food choices both at school and at home.
Planting a garden provides behavioral benefits as well, giving
children a sense of responsibility, of caring for other living
things a