Comments on: Garden-To-School: A Local Success Story

By: Candace

Candace — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 21:25:05 +0000

As a Decatur High School graduate who also attended Renfroe Middle School and Glennwood Elementary back in the K-5 days, it is upsetting to hear a DHS teacher or former teacher put money ahead of children’s health. Times are hard every where and have hit public school budgets across the country really hard lately with drastic cuts in funding, but the OCGP is doing a great service to the community to help make our children not just healthier, but good stewards of the environment as well. Locally grown food may cost more when bought from local farmers, but the fact is it takes more time and effort to grow healthy food. I am sure that the Oakhurst students can back this up and it sounds like they got much more than their money’s worth tending and harvesting the garden.

As a former student and soon to be parent of a city schools of Decatur student, I am very impressed with the partnership and hope that my son has the opportunity to experience this program. It is is cheaper to buy everything from Sysco and other mass market distributors but as another person alluded to in their comment we are feeding our children essentially pesticide sprayed cardboard with no original taste and artificially induced and ripened colors. But hey it’s cheaper, right? Educators especially should know that it is not all about money.

As a family that has recently become so-called locavores, I can attest that growing our own food and going to local farmers markets has sparked a new love of eating healthy foods in my son, who now is thinking critically about what he eats and where it comes from and he is only FOUR. Our food budget did increase a bit, but we are all feeling better and have more energy. As a former student, I am impressed by the program and saddened and depressed that a CSD staff member or former staff member (Coach Billingsley may have retired recently I am not sure) are not supporting this program. Shame on you Mr. B! Andd keep of the good work OCGP!

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 13:47:50 +0000

And for the record, I AM a bit of hypocrite in that I do occasionally indulge in non-locally grown chocolate, pineapples and out-of-season tomatoes…but I’m trying!

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 13:35:13 +0000

I don’t have any hard stats here at my fingertips but just because a head of lettuce from California may be “cheaper” than a locally grown one doesn’t mean there aren’t other associated costs. Think of the underpaid field worker who picked it. Think of the applied chemicals and pesticides. Then there’s the fuel burned to keep it refrigerated and shipped across the country. And let’s not forget the glut of questionable taxpayer-funded federal farm subsidies (I’m looking at you, corn industry). And did I mention the relatively bland taste compared to most locally grown produce?

So cheap? Yes. Costly? You bet.

By: altmod

altmod — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 01:50:55 +0000

We do usually order off the regular menu–it is just portions are so big–not so good for regular dining out. And we all like different types of food so we don’t tend to share as much (and we only have one kid). Don’t worry–we have adapted to every single restaurant in Decatur! And we avoid the crud. I just think that the restaurants should rethink kids meals. . . .

By: s

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 22:38:17 +0000

That’s a good idea…of course they would actually have to agree on something. Sharing and healthy eating, I like it!

By: fifi

fifi — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:21:07 +0000

Why not just order for the kids off the regular menu ? Our kids were always veggie eaters and never loved the fried stuff. We rarely ordered off the kids menus for them. Let them split the salad or veggie side if the portion is too big. You pay a bit more but your kids will not become hooked on salty, greasy food.

IMO Farmburger is lacking on healthy options for adults, too.

By: s

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:08:53 +0000

I agree. When I take my children out, I want them to try new foods, not be restricted to chicken strips and fries. It would be great if restaurants would offer 1/2 orders of regular menu items for kids. When kids are young is the best time to teach them to make healthy eating choices.

By: altmod

altmod — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:32:07 +0000

I’ve found that kids are quite into vegetables–especially when they grow their own. Alas, most of the kids meals at our restaurants in Decatur (and we eat out a lot) specialize in the most unhealthy options on the menu. You want your kid to be able to eat off the kids menu because it is usually sized more appropriately (and costs less). At Farmburger my kid tried to substitute fries for salad. No go (I even offer to pay an up charge). I don’t get why every kids meal is fried chicken/burger/hot dog with fries and a cookie. Hey Decatur restaurants–we eat out ALL the time. How about some healthy sub options for kids? We want veggies!