Growing Young Farmers

Act now!
"Ninety eight percent of Canadians (basically, you and me) are dependent on imported food to such an extent that we would have only 72 hours of food supply in our supermarkets, restaurants and fast food outlets if the transportation network bringing our imported food came to a grinding halt. Why are we sitting back and waiting for this crazy and frightening scenario to happen?"

peas

"I am an experienced and well-respected international educator, public speaker, food security expert, organic consultant and a past certified organic grower. Through presentations and hands-on workshops, I teach and encourage people of all ages – especially young students – to grow healthy food."

Mr. Organic

I believe that all school students should be taught and encouraged to grow food as part of the official school-based curriculum. Students have to learn math, English, and geography, for example. Why not learn how to grow and produce healthy food, too? Consequently, I believe that my “Growing Young Farmers” program should be operating in all schools across Canada in the very near future. “Growing Young Farmers” is the natural extension of another great program called "Farm to School", where farmers grow food for students to eat at their school. “Growing Young Farmers” goes one step farther, teaching students to grow their own food.

THE PROCESS

My team and I will operate a professionally-managed program for schools and farmers/growers. Students will work on farms where the soil has not been treated with chemicals, at least once a week for a school term. They will learn the principle, practices and procedures of growing health-friendly organic food under the supervision of an experienced food-growing mentor, growing food on a larger scale than a school garden. And good news for the farmers/growers – they get paid for the food the students grow! girl cutting lettuce

The food could be bought by the school cafeteria (where applicable) so that students would have an opportunity to eat the food they grew. If no cafeteria, then the parents of the participating students would have the first option to purchase the food. Perhaps teachers at the participating schools would be next in line. For more information please contact me direct at davefriend@friendlyorganics.ca or call 250.704.6602

We would like to be paid to professionally manage this innovative and essential program. If you are in a position to offer financial support (or know someone who is), we would be pleased to hear from you.

"GROWING YOUNG CHEFS"

In the not too distant future, and as an extension of the Growing Young Farmers program, we will create a "Growing Young Chefs" program, where students would be taught how to prepare, cook and preserve nutritious and balanced meals from the food they have grow... watch this space for updates!