School Lunch

[Neal Brown]

I am part of a fledgling group organized by the Indianapolis Museum of Art who's goal is to drastically improve the quality of the food that IPS Schools are serving to our children. I would love to get a sense of how Smoosiers feel about this effort. It entails planting gardens in which the students tend AND harvest, as well urging the school systems to buy vegetables and meats from local farms that practice organic methods. We are using The Edible Schoolyard in Berkeley as our model. Thanks in advance for your input.

[Chriss Gregor-Maxwell]

I think this is a great idea! I would love to see it happen in IPS and then spread to other schools in the area as well. I have been appalled at what I see on the breakfast and lunch trays at the school. I have been packing my son's lunch for 4 years now. (It would be helpful if the parents didn't think that it was impossible to feed a child without enriched white flour and processed cheese. )
Another issue to tackle would be all the waste on the trays- everything is packaged in plastic or paper and tons gets just thrown in the trash. It is the least "green" set-up I have ever seen, and it goes on 5 days per week! Why not recycle, use washable dishes, compost, etc.?

[Linda J Ranger]

Unfortunately we do not live in a part of the country that can grow fresh produce in the winter thus I do not think a garden is the answer unless a not for profit group wants to plant a huge garden and commit to canning or freezing the produce for the school year. This is an enormous amount of food for all of IPS schools alone. Thus I think the farms that have the contracts with the schools need to use good growing practices and packaging to continue receiving the profits of providing for our students.

More salads, fresh vegetables, small portions of meat & eggs and whole grains with a nutritional outlook while keeping the budget in line would go a long way in teaching out children the benefits of good food choices and brain food for learning. Food needs to be affordable for the schools (our taxes) and it is most important that we do not make meals so expensive to prepare that less students are fed on the free lunch/breakfast programs.

[Neal Brown]

All great points Linda, our growing season is maybe the biggest hurdle we face, so food preservation in the form of canning and drying will play an important role. It seems like you understand the issues surrounding this quite well. I think it is important to have some vision though. We of course are not going to be able to feed all IPS students all year long. The Edible Schoolyard, in Berkeley CA, is widely regarded as the best working model, is 12 years old and has only made the transition to one other school. This being in a community FULLY embraces these principles. Also, we realize that the prices of produce grown in this manner must be managed. School lunch facilities are operating on IMPOSSIBLE budgets.

[Michael R.]

Chef Neal, I presume? Never ate at L'Explorteur but heard nothing but good things about it:) This idea to do this in Indy is wonderful. I'm on board and am willing to volunteer my time to help in any way I can. Get ahold of me at your convenience: [e-mail]

[Nicki Laycoax]

I like the idea of teaching the kids to garden and that they can actually grow their own food! One thing that I absolutely hated doing as a child was getting out in the garden and pulling weeds... But I feel that it was one of the reasons that I have the work ethic I do. This would really teach the kids responsibility and the reward of doing something as great as growing their own food and being a provider for their friends and teachers seems priceless.

The health benefit would be phenomenal as well. My only concern would be that the cost of lunches, if purchased from local farms, might increase. Has this been addressed? If so, will there be an increase?

[Jake Roesler]

IMA and school lunch? What's the connection?

[Dave Gibbs]

Basic farming skills is an excellent idea for all school children. It also teaches them the value of stewardship and the process of trade.

Years ago, my father did a tv study on urban children and the relationship to farm life and he found that most children thought that milk was made in the machine where they bought it.

[Sara Croft]

If only we all grew up at private schools that bought their lunch food from the Fresh Market and organic crops...

It is a great idea, but with the already expansive amount of children on free and reduced lunch I am afraid that they would be cut because organic goods would cause the price of food to increase.

Why not start with getting styrofoam out of the kitchen and using dishes instead? What about eliminating unhealthy items to be served only once a week or once a month, like "nacho friday" or "cheese fries friday?" My elementary school did this and it was a great success. I knew too many kids in high school that ate cheese fries and bosco sticks everyday for lunch. Soda pop should also be eliminated but NOT be replaced with sugary drink substitutes like gatorade or high-c: think iced tea, water and naturally flavored drinks.

Growing food would be a wonderful project. Please update us on how your project turns out!

[Wanda Stine]

I'm a homeschooling mom, but I survived public school :) My thoughts support this idea and effort because it would help instill teaching our children to work hard and be a part of a bigger picture. I know that I did not receive that lesson or message in public school, in the 70's and 80's here, in Indianapolis. It would also encourage education on nutrition, backing up lessons in health class and phys ed, by giving the kids hands on opportunities to grow food that is good for them. This would be good for our community as well if it were supporting our local farms. Good for IMA organizing this! I'm an artist, love the museum and the opportunities it allows to the community! I hope this actually happens! Is there any way to become involved?

[Eileen Dennie]

I hate to poo-poo such a great idea, but costs and the limited growing season are big hurdles. I think the gardens are doable though, with the staffing or volunteers. A good source might be the Master Gardeners who need 40 hours of garden-related volunteer work to earn their MG title.

[Cindy Dunston Quirk]

I think it is a great idea! I learned gardening at a very tender age from my parents and it is something I totally love many. many years later. Not only is it a great way to learn how your food grows, it is also wonderful for teaching discipline of tending the garden and cultivating until harvest.

One of the many characteristics gardening teaches is patience, persistence and just good ol' fashion hard work. Oh yes, how about good eating choices, too?

Getting kids out from in from of the TV or computer and out into the sunshine is a wonderful thing. You have my vote!

[Neal Brown]

Hi all, and thanks for this mini-barrage of interest in our project. There a few points that really you all have brought up that our group has obvious concerns about.
1. The growing season of Indiana. When kids are in school. There is limited ability to grow. Orchard School has a greenhouse that they have used with some success and we believe that even the smallest greenhouses are a big part of the worlds food problems. So, Greenhouses really are a viable, possible solution.
2. As part of our Farm to School program, and based on my years of being a chef comitted to using local ingredients, Indianapolis has a rather unique problem. The demand for responsibly grown (whether it's certified organic or not) vegatables, etc. far outweighs the supply. That is why we think that in the beginning, it is very important for us to follow the Edible Schoolyard model, allowing the producers time to catch up with the market.
Thanks to all who are commenting. It shows us that there is not only interest, but more importantly, support.

Viva la Jardin!