The Value of Food

Today Elizabeth and I gave a lesson on "The Value of Food" at the Oneota Community Co-op in downtown Decorah. Middle schoolers from Decorah Middle School came to tour the co-op, so Elizabeth and I prepared a short talk and food taste test for the students. We spoke to the students about the business model of the co-op and how it differs from a conventional grocery store, the co-op's bulk section, organic foods, local foods, and the phrase "you are what you eat." We sampled organic cheese, fair trade chocolate, whole wheat bread from a local bakery, local black winter radishes, local watermelon winter radishes (which are beautiful, by the way! I didn't get a picture but you should Google it), local apples, locally-made hummus, and organic peanut butter from the bulk section. The students sat in the cafe's eating area and we passed the different foods around the table for them to sample. Once you read my blog below, you will understand how much I love working with enthusiastic middle school students (note the sarcasm). The students acted completely bored and uninterested the entire time Elizabeth and I were talking, but at least the teacher was really nice. There were also a few mentally handicapped students there and they were super excited and so nice! They made the lesson worth teaching. After Elizabeth and I spoke to the students, they got to do a scavenger hunt throughout the co-op and they got some free food. I guess they liked that part.

After the kids left, Elizabeth and I got to eat the leftover food! It was all so delicious, and even better, it was free! I ate so much chocolate I felt sick afterward!

Here is a picture of our food cart and me with the cart of food that we sampled:

West Central Producer Visit

A few weeks ago, I organized a "producer visit" at West Central Community School. A local vegetable farmer from Maynard (pretty much the only local farmer from the area who grows edible food and not corn or soybeans) came to the school during lunch time and spoke about his local squash. He brought six or seven different kinds of winter squash and set them up on a table for students to feel, smell, and observe. He also donated some acorn squash for the school lunch that day. The food service director at the school used the squash to make "spiced squash cookies." They were pretty good! She also roasted the squash and cut it into small pieces- I passed out the roasted squash to the students for a taste test while Farmer Murray-John walked around and spoke with students. I think the students liked the roasted squash for the most part- some of it was burnt though. And of course they loved the cookies.

The younger students were much more enthusiastic than the older ones. Working with high school and middle school students is such a drag. That's probably my least favorite part about my job. The younger kids, however, are so inspiring and such a joy to be around! The teachers and Iowa State Extension County Youth Coordinators (4-H people) are extremely helpful when I'm at the schools. They always make the kids try the food, keep things organized, and they make me feel like I'm apart of the community!

Mr. Gordon Murray-John and his wife were honestly some of the nicest people I have ever met. Gordon is originally from England, so he has a beautiful accent. Mrs. Murray-John told me the story of how they met while we were cleaning up the squash...it was so interesting! He was visiting the United States and she was on vacation with her family- Mrs. Murray-John invited Gordon to come back up to Michigan to visit her home, and he did! They were engaged three weeks later! It brought tears to my eyes! I'm really looking forward to working with them more. Gordon wants to help West Central install a school garden in the spring.

Mr. Murray-John from Gordon's Garden and Michele Kelly, ISU Extension Fayette County Youth Coordinator

Mr. Murray-John showing kids his winter squash!

Michele making the kids try the squash...she's holding a toothpick with squash on the end of it.

Gordon speaking to a teacher and more students