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August 10, 2006: This summer I worked as
an editorial intern for The Rodale Institute’s Kidsregen.org
(www.kidsregen.org).
The website helps elementary-age kids learn about making healthy
choices for themselves and for the earth. My main duties included
writing two “Celebrity Food” articles (I learned
more than I thought there was to know about tomatoes and pears),
researching possible articles and projects for the website,
and putting my English-major skills to use by proofreading
and copy-editing a variety of documents for both Kidsregen.org
and The Rodale Institute.
Working at The Rodale Institute opened my eyes to the depth
of issues that often go unnoticed or unmentioned in my small
liberal arts college “bubble.” Spending the majority
of my time reading, analyzing and writing about literature
sometimes puts an impersonal distance between me and critical
issues of worldwide poverty, hunger and environmental degradation.
Not to belittle the importance or impact of literary works—they
can be a dynamic catalyst for causes, including sustainable
agriculture (e.g. the works of Wendell Berry). But a gap often
exists between “real-world” problems and insular
life in an institution of higher learning. Doing copy-editing
work for The Rodale Institute on projects such as press kits,
the annual report and resource lists reminded me just how
important it is to have connections between the research/scientific
world and the “lay”/non-scientific community in
order to find productive solutions to global issues such as
those sustainable agriculture addresses.
Just as I spent my summer learning more about the many ways
to get involved in the movement for regenerative agriculture,
Kidsregen.org offers kids a variety of ways to connect with
the activities and information it provides. Kids who are interested
in arts and crafts can focus on making Paper Garden crafts,
while those who are more interested in getting their hands
dirty can spend time doing different gardening and composting
projects. Oftentimes, activities are designed in relation
to others on the site so that kids will be motivated to look
beyond what they’re already interested in or what they
already know. For example, my article about tomatoes was published
around the same time as a tomato craft was introduced in the
Paper Garden and a recipe for fresh homemade salsa was added
to the site.
Kidsregen.org also reaches beyond individual students and
families by providing resources for educators and sharing
success stories from schools around the globe. A school garden
is an amazing way for kids to gain first-hand experience in
cultivation and to develop their understanding of where their
food comes from (“You mean those green stems are attached
to carrots underground?!”) and the work that’s
involved in getting it to their table. Through Kidsregen.org,
parents, teachers and school administrators can learn about
different types of school gardens and get tips on how to start
their own programs.
Early education about organics and sustainable agriculture
is increasingly important as organic farming moves into the
spotlight in the United States and around the world. Because
official definitions of “organic” do not necessarily
include “local” nor focus on sustainability, and
because food labels and packaging can be misleading, it is
vital that we educate today’s children about regenerative
agriculture in such a way that they understand its nuances
and its importance.
While participating in a SAITA (Sustainable Agriculture Intern
Training Alliance of Southeastern Pennsylvania) event at The
Brandywine Valley Association (BVA), I learned that some states
do a lot more than others when it comes to including agriculture
and sustainability in mandatory public education. Pennsylvania
and Wisconsin are two states that have extensive curriculum
requirements in these areas at elementary, middle- and high-school
levels. Integrated Pest Management will soon appear on Pennsylvania’s
state exams required for high-school graduation. Because many
teachers already struggle with having too much material to
cover and not enough time in the school year, groups such
as the BVA that provide hands-on programs are vital to teachers
and students. Residents of Pennsylvania are lucky in two respects—they
have access to organizations such as the BVA, and their government
recognizes the importance of environmental education (which
includes sustainability). For parents of children participating
in educational systems that don’t cover agriculture
and sustainability, or for people unable to participate in
activities such as those provided by the BVA, Kidsregen.org
is an important resource. Through the website, kids learn
about the varieties of plant, animal and insect life that
work together in agriculture, from small family gardens to
larger farms.
As organic and sustainable agriculture grow in popularity
across the country and around the world, it’s increasingly
important to provide kids with innovative and exciting ways
to learn. Kidsregen.org is a vital part of Rodale’s
"Healthy Soil = Healthy Food = Healthy People" mission.
As board chair Ardie Rodale often says, “Children are
our future farmers”—and they will be able to be
more productive in the organic movement if they are exposed
to and informed about organics and sustainability early in
their education. 
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