Vocabulary Workshop - Level A - Unit 2 - Story

Vocabulary Workshop - Level A - Unit 2 - Story

Interviewer: What are some favorite experiences and things you've learned?

Rosa: I was excited when the blossoms on the squashes and pumpkins appeared. We made pumpkin pancakes and sauteed zucchini blossoms, so I actually cooked and ate a flower! Rule number one for gardeners is smart planning and we need to get maximum use from our plot. Have you heard of companion planting? Plants are like people - some exist together better than others, so we manipulate plants, materials, and space to get the best harvest. We also extend the natural growing seasons by mimicking Mother Nature with grow lights and mini greenhouses.

Interviewer: I heard that the Scrumptious Schoolyard concept was somewhat controversial in the beginning.

Rosa: It ruffled a few feathers. Some people were disinterested, while others were suspicious, depicting it as playing instead of learning. I think their complaints are groundless and they really don't know what they're missing. It's amazing to watch something grow from a tiny seed. It takes a lot of stamina and enthusiasm to keep the gardens growing but everyone works together.

Interviewer: Have you encountered any stumbling blocks so far?

Interviewer: Rosa, you're a sixth grade student gardener in the Scrumptious Schoolyard at T. R. Middle School in West End. Have you tried growing anything before?

Rosa: We develop tools and strategies for overcoming adverse conditions. Our climate isn't extremely arid, but sometimes it's pretty dry, so we practice water conservation by using rain barrels. Also, the first time we tried to make compost, it was unbelievably smelly. You have to get the ingredients and layers right. The second time, it turned out great. One of our teachers calls compost "black gold".

Rosa: No, this is my first time, and now I have a green thumb. I might become a farmer or a chef, or both!

West End School has Comestible Curriculum

Vocabulary Workshop - Level A - pages 22-23

Interviewer: Do you have a secret for attracting butterflies and bees to the garden?

Rosa: We grow flowers that draw beneficial insects. Honeybees pollinate our plants, but the bees are in trouble because of Colony Collapse Disorder, so we try to do our part. Since our gardens are organic, we would be hypocrites if we used pesticides, so we're studying all-natural pest control. One raised bed has a koinobori, a Japanese fish kite that billows in the breeze and scares off scavengers.

Interviewer: What would you say to other schools or kids interested in the program?

The Scrumptious Schoolyard is a grassroots program that transforms concrete playgrounds into functional farmland. Part of the Scrumptious Schoolyard Project, it is the brainchild of contemporary food-education pioneer Clarissa Z. Ochoa. Students explore the connection between what they eat and where it comes from through hands-on organic gardening and cooking classes. The "comestible curriculum" encompasses math, science, history, geography, social studies, and more.

Rosa: Confront obstacles and go for it! You may think one kid can't do much to help the environment or change how people eat, but working in the Scrumptious Schoolyard has made me believe we can make a big difference.

Interviewer: Finally, I have to ask - do you really eat all the vegetables you're growing? I thought kids were supposed to hate vegetables.

Rosa: There's no way I'm going to eat turnips. But it's good to try new things, according to my science teacher. We're still waiting to see him try turnips!