Seeds of educationーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS
The edible schoolyard is a project that teaches school children to grow their own food, cultivating values of nourishment, responsibility, and community. The Americanborn Movement is taking root in countries around the world, including Japan. Our next report explores how this hands-on experience is planting seeds of growth among Japanese children. One rooftop stands out among skyscrapers in a business district in Tokyo because it’s filled with vegetables. A citizens group helps children from a nearby school take care of this hidden sanctuary. Onion? No, radish. The children don’t just grow vegetables. They harvest, prepare, and then enjoy eating fresh salads all in one place. These activities are part of the school’s regular curriculum, just like math and English. It was fun tearing up the lettuce, and it tasted so good. The insects will be happy with all these plants. The idea of an edible schoolyard was brought to life by Alice Waters, an American chef and food activist. It began in 1995 at a public school in California. Today, the movement involves over 5,800 institutions in 75 countries. Guuchi Hioko played a key role in bringing this program to Japan. She believes that through growing vegetables, children learn about far more than just food. When children come here, they start talking to each other freely and begin working together. These relationships and interactions don’t often happen in classrooms. Horriuchi and her team started the first edible schoolyard in 2014 at the school in a Tokyo suburb. Parents and neighbors also help in the garden. Nakasawa Manami vividly recalls how this program transformed her daughter Nonuka who graduated six years ago. Nonuka was very shy and often alone. But when she was in charge of taking care of hens and their eggs, it became an important bridge to friendships. She could be her true self and that led her to run for a role as a leader in a classroom activities. I was deeply impressed with the impact of this garden education. Nonuka is now a college student. Inspired by her elementary school experiences, she dreams of becoming a teacher. An expert in nutritional education also highlights the essence of the program’s values. Cultivating vegetables cannot be done alone. By being involved in these activities, children learn to communicate with people of all ages. They also naturally learn to care for others. The edible schoolyard fosters connection with evidence also suggesting a positive impact on bullying and absenteeism. These encouraging signs are inspiring Japanese supporters to move toward expanding the program nationwide.
The Edible Schoolyard is a project that teaches schoolchildren to grow their own food, cultivating values of nourishment, responsibility and community. The American-born movement is taking root in countries around the world, including Japan. This report explores how this hands-on program is planting seeds of growth among Japanese children. #japan #children #education #nature #usa #culture #environment
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