The Dawes Garden of Eatin’
2010
In the spring of 2004 The Dawes Garden of Eatin’ project was launched with the help of Slow Food Chicago and Keep Evanston Beautiful, Inc. Taking inspiration from the Slow Food movement and Alice Waters’ The Edible Schoolyard, our program focuses on cultivating the senses and an ecological approach to school gardening. In our garden, children plant, harvest and come to the table to enjoy what they have grown. Learning about organic gardening helps them understand that their personal health is connected to the soil. And through Taste Education they learn the pleasures of fresh, local food grown sustainably.
It is the Dawes community that has created, nurtured, and continues to grow our garden. We are grateful for the contributions of the staff and faculty at Dawes, the families and students, and the larger community who have provided funding and SUPPORT in countless ways for this project.
Stroll through our garden site and find information on what to grow, when to plant and harvest, and a variety of recipes to use in preparing garden fresh vegetables. Find tools that will help you with planning garden workdays and celebrations at your school. Be inspired to take those first steps in starting your own edible school garden. And for more inspiration and information visit the site below to learn more about school gardens in the Evanston/Skokie community.
Welcome to our site
Winter 2010
Cooking Up Wellness
“It’s not like a regular day at school. It feels like a fest!” one second grader exclaimed. She had just participated in a tasting of zucchini/black bean burgers with a side of mango salsa prepared by her class. With the help of funding from SLOW FOOD USA and the DAWES PTA all of our students are participating in cooking classes. Elizabeth Thomas of NURTURE is teaching our students assisted by teachers and parent volunteers. Dicing, mashing, slicing, grating, mixing, measuring - the kitchen equipment is put to use and within an hour students have cleaned up and are sitting down waiting for the burgers to finish cooking. Elizabeth uses the time to lead the class through some yoga stretches. Then wrapping things up, she reviews with the children just what makes this a healthy meal. A rainbow of colors, fruits, vegetables, fiber, plant protein - you are in control and know what is in your food.
Buen Provecho!
Click here to see photos of the
.
