Growing Leaders
Exploring Food Culture in the Garden
Growing Leaders is a garden-based education program open to all youth age 5-15. Dedicated to empowering the next generation of change makers, Growing Leaders fosters values of Earth connection and stewardship, exploring how food, the way we grow and prepare it, is our cultural heritage. Students gather weekly, Spring through Fall, to create a garden of their own design and bring their ideas full circle, from seed to harvest to preparation to service. Through holistic, hands-on garden and kitchen-based activities, students explore the importance of biological & cultural diversity.
Programming is available to all free of charge, thanks to public donations and grant support. Drop-ins welcome!
EVERY THURSDAY AFTER SCHOOL
3-4:30PM
EDUCATIONAL PILLARS
-
Throughout the world, traditional wisdom holds biodiversity to be the foundation of healthy ecosystems & food cultivation. From the life in the soil, to seed, to harvest we have depended on a complex web of life.
-
Celebrating what makes us unique while honoring the common threads of the human experience, we have the opportunity to contribute to a more peaceful, compassionate world.
-
Through food and music, we explore the biological and cultural gifts inherited from our ancestors.
By cultivating an understanding of how people around the world have traditionally grown, prepared & shared food, students experience how food is the foundation of cultural heritage.
Students meet weekly April through October at Origins Community Garden & Kitchen Classroom for programming which includes:
An exploration of each student’s culture of origin by collecting and experimenting with family recipes;
Featured guest teachers of diverse cultural backgrounds, who share lessons on a wide range of topics related to growing and preparing food;
Integration with the cultural theme of each month’s Harmony Garden Music Festival performing artist, student research and recipe experimentation;
Community service experience, preparing and serving culturally-inspired food and drinks at the Harmony Garden Music Festival concerts. Student’s culinary creations are offered to the public by donation.
