MPS students learn where their food comes from
By: Jamal James, Spectrum News 1
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FRANKLIN, Wis. — With the school year coming to an end, kids across Wisconsin letting out for summer break. The Hunger Task Force Farm is making sure that students and their families know the importance of making healthy choices while the kids are out of school.
Nahem Newman is a fifth grader at Albert Story Elementary School. He and his classmates visited the Hunger Task Force Farm on Thursday for the ‘Garden-to-Plate’ program.
Nahem said this is the second time he’s participated in the program that teaches the difference between fresh and processed food.
“Something that’s not too simple. You actually could like challenge yourself,” said Nathan Newman, an Albert Story Elementary School student. “Not just like instant noodles where you can put water in the microwave. Something you have to make by yourself, or something original. Something homemade. Doing like some garlic, onions, then it’s just like, lettuce and vegetables like, carrots and stuff.”
This program is part of the nonprofits’ “Community Nutrition Education” initiative.
For more than a decade, it has shared information about nutritional foods, where they come from, and what you can do with it.
Sarah Bressler is the Hunger Task Force farm director. She said they’re now looking to private donors after recent government funding cuts.
“For them to be educated and get their hands in the soil and be able to understand that they can plant a seed, nurture the soil, and grow this healthy tomato, for example. How that impacts their health, one. But two, how to prepare it, changes their relationship with food for the rest of their life,” said Bressler.
Amanda Ulin is a teacher at Albert Story Elementary School. She said this class provides students with experiences that go beyond what they learn in the classroom.
“They walked in here and they were like, ‘Oh my God, the kitchen. It’s so beautiful. We can make anything here,’” said Amanda Ulin, a teacher at Albert Story Elementary School. “We would never be able to make that in a classroom. Like have blenders going at the same time and giving 30 kids smoothies at the same time. We’re never able to do that.”
Newman said he loves getting out on the farm. He said it has helped him learn what goes into cooking a homemade meal for yourself and your loved ones.
“It helps you calm your mind when you just like, say you’re stressed and you cook, do something that helps you calm your mind. Then you have a nice snack for later,” said Newman. “Something homemade, you can tell your family about it and then like, it can just go on for a long, long time, and then you can tell your friends and stuff. You can like, bring them stuff that you made, homemade and that’s only you. Instead of them just being able to go buy it.”
The Hunger Task Force Farm hopes to bring more classes like this to people across the state. They said they’re also looking at creating hybrid classes where anyone can come to their headquarters or find a class online.
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