Notes from a Sixth Grader and Her Mom:

This week's recall of 143 million pounds of beef (much of it destined for the nation's school lunch program) inspired today's blog. Originally, I was going to plug school gardens and farm-to-school as a way to improve the school food system. I began writing about Ventura Unified School District's Healthy Schools Program, but decided that topic deserves several blog entries in and of itself. (It's a marvelous program - a real national model. Because I live here in Ventura and see the positive effects of the program every day, I sometimes forget how innovative and miraculous it really is. Thanks for reminding me, Marilyn).

Instead, I am going to allow a youth to speak to the issue. My daughter, Natalie, a middle-school student in Ventura Unified, was asked to prepare a written and oral book report. With my encouragement, she chose to discuss Eric Schlosser and Charles Wilson's, "Chew On This: Everything You Don't Want to Know about Fast Food." It's "Fast Food Nation" for younger audiences, and it's a compelling read. Natalie read it, and after she was done for the day, I'd read it, too. The writing style engaged her, and I noticed her sharing information with her friends via phone calls, emails and in personal conversations. Hmmm…youth advocacy? The report she gave was a hit, and the book has passed among eight different sixth graders and their families in the last couple of months. When it was returned to us last week (on a short layover before being passed on to yet another friend), I noticed how dog-eared it had become. An important book will take on that aspect, don't you think?

Inspired by the book, Natalie wrote the authors. Here is a copy of her letter, unedited:

"Dear Eric Schlosser & Charles Wilson,

I really enjoyed reading your book Chew On This. I really liked how honest you were about McDonalds, and how they just wanted to make money, and not care about what they put into their products. I used to eat at Wendy’s at least once a week. Since I started reading your book, I’ve only eaten there once in one month and a half. I think that Chew On This has really changed my perspective on food. I really appreciate that you have made a book that can really change someone’s life. I liked it so much; I am going to do a book report on it. I have been telling all of my classmates about it, and many of them want to read it. Most of my classmates liked hearing about the food coloring and how the chickens were treated at the slaughter houses. Some of them even said, “I never want to eat at McDonalds again!” Other classmates have asked me repeatedly if they could borrow my book. I also told my teacher about how they now do Gastric Bypass Surgery on kids, she said “Really? I can’t understand why they would do that if it’s so dangerous for adults!”

I was amazed at how much I didn’t know, because my mom works in agriculture, and the history of agriculture. She even read the book and was also amazed at how much she didn’t know. My mom went to a food conference this summer, and I met Melinda Hemmelgarn, (The Food Sleuth), and I have listened to her talk before. If you haven’t read her column, you should. Again, I really thank you for writing this book. You have changed my life.

Sincerely,

11 years old, Natalie Smith"

Mom again. I guess the point of this blog is to note that perhaps the strongest allies we have to help us promote gardening, healthy eating, and a sustainable food system are youth. If we can provide space for them to enter into the discussion, they may direct us to the solution. That's certainly my hope.

Over the President's Day holiday, Natalie planted her spring Victory Garden, sowing an organic lettuce mix provided by our friend Roger Doiron of Kitchen Gardeners International (http://www.kitchengardeners.org). We both enjoyed thinking of Roger and his sons planting the same seeds in their family’s garden.

P.S. from Natalie’s mom: Natalie is right about a lot of things, including how much her mom doesn’t know. She’s also spot on about reading Melinda Hemmelgarn's work. A link to yesterday's column, in which she addressed Victory Gardens and the U.S. House of Representatives cafeteria, is included: http://www.columbiatribune.com/2008/Feb/20080220Food007.asp

"A Garden for Everyone. Everyone in a Garden."