Comments on: Food for Thought

By: John W

John W — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 08:14:00 +0000

That is lovely Carol. Surplus apples were given out to schools in NZ in the 40s, school milk was a feature until it was stopped for political reasons ( that is another story )
Your heartening lack of mean spiritedness is uplifting.
Community gardens also are working in some parts of NZ.

The comment from rainman about long term sustainability is relevant to the home/ community garden topic.
Transporting food to cities will become a grave issue in the years ahead. Space within cities to grow vegetables is the way of protecting food supply. I don’t see any Council or govt attention to this.
Kids get a lot of enjoyment and gain life skills from gardening. A lot more productive than putting them in from of a TV or play station.

The key issue of space is right but also time to develop a garden is a luxury for many with both parents working to try and cover debts. The kids miss out on having parent time let alone a chance to see how great growing food is.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 06:42:51 +0000

Blip the emphasis was on donating – I’d donate my (albeit very average/limited & non fancy) cooking skills if it meant people could learn how to do things like whip up a stirfry, pad spaghetti bolognese out with some veges & lentils etc

Jeremy: great idea. It seems we all have lots of ideas….just hope the powers that be are reading them

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 06:36:54 +0000

Not only schools carol, but I plant fruit trees of some type at all my properties, some like it, others would rather have a low maintenance concrete pad.

How about Housing NZ has a plan for planting and window boxes or raised gardens at all of their homes. At least it gives the option, and perhaps a tap on the shoulder for home grown.

By: BLiP

BLiP — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 06:16:41 +0000

The solution to the problem is not “enviro-schools” or government. All we need is a few dedicated folk willing to share their knowledge with other adults.

There was a time people could have gone to evening classes but, guess what, National Ltd™ cancelled them as well.

By: Linda

Linda — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 04:26:13 +0000

‘Super grans’ in Manawatu were doing exactly that for groups or individuals.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 04:13:37 +0000

Rebecca said ” I am the master at making cheap, quick food as I love eating and hate cooking. I am amazed how some people genuinely have no idea what to do with a bit of potatoe, broccauli, capsicum, mushroom, carrot and mince…cottage pie anyone!

Indeed The solution to the problem is not “enviro-schools” or government. All we need is a few dedicated folk willing to share their knowledge with other adults.

It can’t be that difficult to set up a few demos in malls etc.

Fruit and veges are cheap compared to ready meals and takeaways and always have been.

By: paul

paul — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 01:00:42 +0000

@D.raco – I did not get the whole scrapping of enivro schools either – I can tell you now it is a VERY successful programme – fantastic learning curve for kids – they always love it and are always engaged. ITs real learning. I know most schools will struggle on with it – but the govt are so short sighted that I am stuffed if I can see what good scrapping it will do (none in fact imo) and as for putting pies and coke back – stupid. For those schools that were already water only, and had healthy options, the reversal of the healthy food initiative was just plain pathetic. Tolley and Key sent a clear message by squashing it – get fat, we dont care – not our problem. Well, news for them – the costs of this on our health system are massive – and while it may have only been at school time, it would have made a difference over time. ANd to hear her (Tolley) scream it out to Trev in the house that that was a good thing they did – well, it just defies logic.

THe future is about being sustainable and living better lives – scraping enviro schools and the healthy food options just show that this govt could not care two hoots about the future.

By: rainman

rainman — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 01:00:25 +0000

Good on you for growing food Carol.

So is Labour going to adopt any policies to facilitate food gardening education, small scale food production/small-farming, or better yet, address the seemingly endless property subdivision that leaves most houses with gardens the size of postage stamps? Perhaps address urban sprawl?

Industrial agriculture is not long-term sustainable, it would be nice to see a major party recognise this.

By: Dorothy

Dorothy — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:50:26 +0000

sadly not true about fruit trees in English schools, many of which have not a scrap of greenery in the tarmac plyground. The priority is balancing the budget, with many schools selling off playing fields to do this. There may be local initiatives to have vege patches but that will be down to the commitment of individual teahchers or heads.

By: BLiP

BLiP — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:40:09 +0000

You gotta wonder what National Ltd™ is up to with putting pies’n'coke back on the menu and then trashing the EnviroSchools programme. Apart from the many, many lessons that can be gained from a garden – especially for those kids who’s parents can’t afford a decent section or suffer under a draconian landlord – EnviroSchools often produced a surplus of good food that was distributed into the community.

How’s that change feeling coming along, folks? Are you lovin’ it?