Food for thought…
Do you believe that children are changemakers? Do you think that teaching children how to grow and cook at school has the potential to revolutionise Aotearoa?
The five wāhine pictured below believe in this vision. Recently, they gathered alongside some other wonderful panelists (all of whom are connected to Garden to Table) to discuss this in more detail and inspire positive action.
Garden to Table Hauora - Health Panel L- R: Leyette Callister (former Howick Primary principal and Regional Coordinator), Nadia Lim (Trustee), Toni Street (parent & volunteer), Catherine Bell (Chair & co-founder), Niki Bezzant (Ambassador)
Would you like to watch to these panel discussions? If you’d like to feel inspired about the future, scroll down to leave your details and receive your special link to view.
Following is a taste of what each panel covered - to see and hear more - fill in your details below!
Our hauora - health - panel delved into more than just physical health. Panelists agreed in the powerful mental health benefits of getting outside and connecting with nature and the pure wonder to be found in the garden. That’s on top of the physical health benefits from gardening, not to mention the benefits of eating fresh kai from the vegetable garden.
“When you know how to cook, you’ve got the ability to control your own health. You’ve got the control to nurture and nourish yourself and your own health, and that’s a powerful thing. Garden to Table cultivates that, and gives you that skill for life”
Garden to Table Sustainability panel L - R: Dr Emma Sharp (scientist), Andrew King (Oropi School principal), Nadia Lim (Trustee), Ani Brunet (CEO), Emily, Ruby, Nico (students)
Our sustainability panel covered everything from the importance of composting to the soil beneath our feet, our connection to the planet and each other, and even financial sustainability!
“Garden to Table teaches us to look after Papatūānuku. Nearly 1/4 of New Zealand’s population is under 16. If we teach them about caring for the environment when they are young, we can make a big difference for our future”
Garden to Table Education panel L-R: Andrew King (Oropi School principal); Leyette Callister (former principal Howick Primary); Nadia Lim (Trustee); Victoria Bernard (Curriculum Manager); Teisha Louisale (former student)
Finally, our education panel linked all of this to our school environment. This group explored the many ways that the NZ curriculum can be taught throughout Garden to Table sessions. We found out from former Meadowbank Primary student Teisha that Garden to Table helped her to come out of her shell and learn to collaborate with her classmates. We learned from Oropi School principal Andrew that Garden to Table can uplift and empower students of all abilities. And, Nadia convinced us of her passion for the Garden to Table programme to be available in every school in Aotearoa New Zealand.
“If you think about learning fractions in the classroom, but then going into the kitchen and seeing a pumpkin cut into quarters, you actually see what a quarter is, rather than this strange circle that’s flat on a worksheet. At Garden to Table, you get hands-on, and that’s learning for life.”
Guests described our panel sessions as ‘inspirational’ and ‘heartwarming’. Why don’t you take a look and see if you agree?
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