I live close to a school. This summer, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it had a garden. I came to learn that it’s one of those Edible Schoolyard type gardens, and I’ve been told that they use it to teach math and other subjects in addition to illustrating where food comes from.
Apparently they also use the garden to teach food waste. Last night while I was walking by, I noticed that all of the tomato plants had been cleared. I was surprised, given that my not-so-robust ones are still bearing fruit.
Upon closer examination, I saw that the compost bin was filled with the stalks laden with cherry tomatoes. There were green ones, ripe ones and everything in-between.
I can’t quite imagine why the people who watered the plants all through the summer would call time on these tomatoes. Especially given the abundance of yet-to-ripen tomatoes and the distant first freeze here in North 
Carolina. At the very least, they could have found a home for the delicious red ones.
Instead, the students are receiving one more lesson–in a country full of them–that food is disposable.
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7 responses to “Fresh Compost”
I walk by a school garden every day, and watch the leafy greens bolt into inedibility, the apples fall to the ground and the snap peas harden in their pods. It’s hard to imagine what they’re actually teaching the kids with this.
How to waste food?
One possible issue, and I don’t know how reasonable this is, but it wouldn’t surprise me: whether the kids are allowed to eat the food, because of all these crazy health/safety regulations for the little ones. But why don’t you just go and ask? And since you live near the school, you should try to get involved, assuming that it doesn’t lead to some conflict over, say, food waste, if indeed they are out-and-out wasting it. (Sorry, I don’t mean to pontificate here, so I hope it doesn’t come off with that annoyed tone or anything.)
That’s an interesting theory, Zack. I hadn’t thought that red tape might be the reason why kids don’t get to eat the garden’s food, and I hope it’s not. I’m trying to find out a bit more.
I’d love to get involved–another good idea. It’d have to be next year, because the garden seems to be about done for the season. But we’ll see. Finding free time during school hours could be another thing, but it’s definitely worth a shot.
>”…why the people who watered the plants all through the summer would call time on these tomatoes.”
It could be something secondary such as the cost of water. We’ve seen a lot of schools cutting back on this or that recently because of the current economic situation and cost.
What’s really sad is that the garden is done for the season… Especially in NC there are a lot of things that can be planted and grown year round, with important lessons about the seasons and weather to learn.
Even if the kids can’t eat the literal fruits of their labors, they could donate to the local shelter/soup kitchen. Yet another learning opportunity lost. I’m actually pretty shocked that no one along the chain of command thought about donating the food…
At least they composted them… perhaps the seeds will sprout in future gardens. ;^)