I recently finished Gardening at the Dragon’s Gate by Wendy Johnson, a magical book which I highly recommend to one and all. (Or at least to one and all interested in food, health, nature, cooking, gardening, organics, environment, zen, mythology, spirituality, obesity, local farming, or CSAs.)

I most liked the bits where she writes about school gardens that she’s involved in—what a brilliant idea! It’s educational (biology—learning where food comes from and how it grows), it gets children moving by working the garden, learning life skills in preparing the food, and gets them eating those healthy vegetables they might otherwise scorn (as Johnson points out, “If they make it, they will eat it”).

The increased activity paired with fresh vegetables and other healthy food will reduce obesity, and the best part—the kids will learn more and remember it better, because they’ll be more focused in the classroom. 

The garden as a conduit for learning. I’m sure it’s not a new idea, but it’s the first time it clobbered me over the head with its commonsenseness. Win, win, win all around.

Know of a local school garden? Involved in a CSA? Send us your links and/or photos! We’ll publish them later this month.