New Hope food curriculum takes veggies from plots to tots
By Holly Waldkoetter
Nutritional Coordinator
At New Hope for Families, seeds are sprouting! Entering its seventh year of operation, New Hope's "Plot to Tot" food curriculum and gardening program is more exciting than ever.
The idea began as a miniature community supported agriculture (CSA) model, in which a small garden plot was able to offer fresh, local produce for the families in our shelter program. Today, the garden plot is located in Switchyard Park Community Garden, just a short walk down the B-Line Trail from our facility. This close proximity allows children enrolled in our Early Learning Center to take field trips to the garden and be involved with the growing.
Plot to Tot is inspired by the local farm-to-table movement as well as the fight for food justice. The goal of the Plot to Tot curriculum is three-fold. Firstly, we aim to provide fresh, nutritious food for children and their families. Secondly, we aim to incorporate math, literacy, science and social studies learning in hands-on, meaningful ways connecting kids to gardening and food. Finally, we aim to facilitate positive eating and gardening experiences for the children.
We position ourselves with leaders such as Ellyn Satter, Alice Waters, and José Andrés, who have all deeply inspired New Hope's food program. Informing our philosophy of relationship based food experiences, Ellyn Satter reminds us to "eat and feed with joy" to build a foundation of trust with food and others. School gardens have been influenced at large by the Edible Schoolyard work Chef Alice Waters has devoted herself to. It was Waters's notion early in her career that "kids should be involved in the production of their own food" that moved many schools to cultivate on-site (or near-site) gardens. Rounding out our philosophy is renowned Chef José Andrés, whose organization World Central Kitchen responds to disasters by sending chefs and food to the affected area. Andrés's central principle of "food as a human right" reminds us to remain engaged in the work of food justice daily.
What does New Hope's food program look like now? A community of 48 children receiving minimally processed and fresh-made meals; a beautiful garden space, thanks to the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, just a short walk away from their classroom, with a bed full of new botanical adventures; a food pantry providing support to families on-site at our Family Shelter, as well as the children enrolled in the Early Learning Center.
As a result of your much-appreciated support, we have grown broccoli, corn, cabbage, tomatoes, and more for our children to enjoy. With our long time partner Hoosier Hills Food Bank, we distribute hundreds of pounds of food each year to our families.
With new garden beds coming soon to New Hope's classrooms, the possibilities for Plot to Tot are still growing!
