The Dawes School Garden of Eatin'

The Dawes School Garden of Eatin' project focuses on educating children about healthy food choices. Through growing and harvesting vegetables themselves, and then  coming together for tastings, our students learn where food comes from and to appreciate the joys of fresh produce.  They learn that how we grow our food has a profound effect on the environment and on their personal health.  They learn that good nutrition means including vegetables in their diet.  At the Dawes garden tastings we celebrate our diverse culinary traditions and the pleasures of fresh, seasonal food.  

Our program is in its tenth year.  All of the classes, kindergarten through fifth grade, participate in our garden project.  We have the support of our principal, parents, teachers, the Dawes PTA, the school district administration, and volunteers in the wider community.  We are grateful to Slow Food Chicago and Slow Food USA for providing support that enables us to continue to grow and flourish as well as to our local community supporters.

The Dawes School Gardens are an integral part of the school curriculum.  Teachers bring students to the gardens for inspiration for creative writing, application of math skills, and hands-on experiences in the study of plants, insects and habitats.   And the gardens are often used as a place for quiet reading, discussion and contemplation.