Ramblewood Elementary Healthy Growing by Bryan Jersky

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Slide Notes

I’m Bryan Jersky. I started HP US in May 2012, after 2 things in my life happened. (1) The obesity epidemic hit mainstream and (2) I started to cook more. The more I cooked, the more I learned about what I was eating and the scarier it become. I couldn’t stand by while more and more of our kids were getting sick just because they didn’t know what they were eating. So let’s talk about our kids.

Ramblewood Elementary Healthy Growing

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PRESENTATION OUTLINE

Healthy Growing

Ramblewood Elementary

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Raise your hand if you have a child.

This is my son, Weston...he’s 17 months old. He’s amazing...a bit fearless for better or for worse, but so funny and amazing.

Keep those hands up. (Ask ⅔ of the room to put their hands down). Everyone with our hands still up in the air..our kids are obese and likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

1 in 3 children are obese or overweight and likely to develop type 2 diabetes

Now I’m not saying your specific child is obese, but the research shows that ⅓ of our kids are. And it’s not getting better...it’s inching closer to ½.

Photo by chooyutshing

Type 2 Diabetes

Heart disease
Blindness
Kidney failure
Lower-limb amputations
Appearing earlier than ever before - in people as young as age 30

Photo by Charmaine Sylvia Photography

Our kids are getting adult diseases.

This is unacceptable.

The good news is this is preventable!

Eating better and exercising can reduce Type 2 diabetes by more than 50%

At the early stages of type 2 diabetes, symptoms can be reversed within a few weeks and reduced by more than 50%, just by eating better and exercising - this is more effective than taking medicine.

We Know What, But How?

We know eating better is the answer, but HOW do we get kids to do that. Behavior change is challenging.

When kids grow vegetables

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They EAT vegetables!

Research backs this up and we’ve seen it over and over again. It's that simple.

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Healthy Growing
A customized school garden program rooted in hands-on nutrition education and community engagement

Allow me to introduce to you Healthy Growing. A customized school garden program rooted in hands-on nutrition education and community engagement. Our program brings teachers, students, parents and businesses together around a common goal.

Photo by cafemama

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Outcomes

15% increase - students choosing healthy food instead of fast food
44% increase in academic performance
Improvements in attendance, attitudes, and employability
Connected, proud, & responsible community
Long-term school garden

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Results

42 schools
Over 18,000 children
10+ cities
Over 300 Raised Garden Beds
Over 20,000 seeds planted

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Ramblewood - Amanda Morgan

"Our garden thrived for about one year. It was difficult to get others interested and using their grade level's garden bed. Once others started using the beds, upkeep was the issue. I became overwhelmed, on top of water shortage, so the beds have been empty for 2 years.

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Ramblewood - Amanda Morgan

I am a full time teacher, so finding time for the garden was difficult. Finding time to take my students to the garden was difficult and how to manage them at the garden was a challenge. Other teachers felt the same way. I need help getting people involved!"

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Ramblewood - Goals

Educate the students about:
the connection between food and common school subjects
where food comes from, how it’s made and waste reduction
entrepreneurship around the garden
Engage the whole school community
Improve healthy eating knowledge and behaviors

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Ramblewood Strengths

Some passionate, committed teachers
Support from most teachers
Supportive and committed Principal
Initial garden infrastructure
Culturally diverse and willing parents
Strong commitment to healthy eating
After school program
Some funding available

Photo by Jason Lander

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Ramblewood Gaps

In need of extra garden support
In need of more gardening tools and materials
In need of strategy to engage whole school
In need of garden-based curriculum that aligns with Common Core
In need of more garden infrastructure including drip irrigation

Photo by Mr Moss

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The Plan - Branch 1

Garden Collaborative
To provide more support and engage the school
Led by teachers and parents, but including students and After School Club
Teachers can default to a Garden Parent
Garden sessions with the students

Photo by growinggreat108

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The Plan - Branch 2

Garden-based education
Help re-engage the teachers and keep the students engaged
Over 30 lessons developed by educators
Align with Common Core
Teach 3 lessons per year

Photo by mypubliclands

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The Plan - Branch 3

Garden Buddy Program
Engages both grade levels
Increases knowledge retention
Reinforces cross-grade positive relationships and anti-bullying education
K and 3rd Grade
1st Grade and 4th Grade
2nd Grade and 5th Grade

Photo by Kathy Cassidy

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The Plan - Branch 4

6th Grade Enterprise Project
Students learn real-life business skills revolving around the garden
Can start their own business to help fund future maintenance costs for the garden and support the community
Students are very engaged with the garden and their relative school work
Enterprise Lessons

Photo by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

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The Plan - Branch 5

Family garden space
7 local families
Families can keep what they grow
Must help with school garden
Helps to engage culturally diverse, willing parent community, while also helping with garden maintenance, funding, etc
Organized and structured program

Photo by Melissa Wall

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Garden Infrastructure

Kdg - 3rd: One current 4ft x 4ft raised bed + new vertical garden per grade
4th - 6th: Same as above + 2ft x 4ft x 2ft galvanized horse trough
After School Club: Same as above
Families in pilot family garden area: Two 2ft x 4ft x 2ft galvanized horse trough garden beds per family plus vertical garden

Photo by BorderExplorer

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