Student-Led Climate Action on Earth Day
Happy Earth Day!
This year, the theme for Earth Day is ‘Invest in Our Planet’ - and here at Garden to Table, we’ve been reflecting on what this means to us.
We believe that the best way to invest in our planet is to invest in our tamariki.
Children are changemakers - and by empowering them to grow, harvest, prepare, and share fresh kai, we are also enabling them to live environmentally sustainable lives.
Let’s take a look at what this means …
As tamariki in the Garden to Table programme spend time in the māra kai (garden), they have the opportunity to connect with; care for; and protect, Papatūānuku (Mother Earth).
Through composting, mulching, watering, and practising soil care, students learn about the importance of looking after our planet, and discover how - with the right care and attention, our whenua (land) can produce nourishing seasonal kai.
In the kihini (kitchen), as the garden’s bounty is turned into delicious meals, tamariki build their understanding of where food comes from. No transportation or packaging is required - helping to offset carbon emissions, and save forestry, water, energy, and labour resources.
Food scraps are turned into compost - enabling tamariki to experience the full circular food system in action, and gain respect for nature’s intrinsic value.
Finally, as ākonga (students) take these lessons home, they are able to build food security amongst their whānau and communities.
As the climate crisis reaches breaking point, eco-anxiety is real and prevalent amongst children, and continues to negatively impact wellbeing.
Schools are a logical setting for building environmental literacy and generating behavioural change to address our climate challenges. It’s an honour to be able to do so through the Garden to Table programme - and Earth Day is an important reminder of the difference we’re making.
By empowering tamariki as changemakers, we can create positive environmental change today, and every day.