Somerton garden teaches children ‘conscious healthy consuming’
We all know that kids say the darnedest things.
” One of my kids asked: ‘ mom where do bananas come from? ” said Josie Mercado Chavez. ” So I said, ‘well where do bananas come from?’ and my son said ‘Wal-Mart’. ”
It was at that moment that Mercado Chavez saw an opportunity to teach her kids, and the many children she works with at the Chicanos Por La Causa Headstart Center in Somerton about the origin of their food.
That’s exactly what happened next, with a couple of dollars and with the generous donations of various community members, the Farm to School garden is going on to its third year of existence.
The majority of the children in the early childhood education program are the children of migrant and seasonal farm workers that work in the area.
Aside from teaching students about where their food comes from, Farm to School teaches the children the importance of eating healthy.
Mercado Chavez mentions that in Yuma County that of the 540 children that they work with, 15% are at 90 percentiles in Body Mass Index. Standards dictate that for children at that age with such BMI are considered obese.
Since then, the garden has been a source of learning for the children about healthy eating, how food is grown but also about consciously consuming food.
Without the support of the community, the garden and program wouldn’t continue, that’s a known factor, which is why the Chicanos Por La Causa is putting together a benefit concert.
The concert which will take place on October 25 th at the Yuma Civic Center will feature the Selena tribute band, ‘Los Chicos del 512’. Evelyn Molina, the lead singer of the band was a student at the Somerton Headstart way back then, but now she is returning to lend a hand.
Mercado Chavez reassures that the lessons these children will carry with them will last a lifetime but more so the memory of watching something like a vegetable grow from seed to the top of their table is unforgettable.
” This planting alone will make them feel better about themselves because they are growing something, harvesting something, ” said Mercado Chavez. ” We’re planting, we’re growing things, we have a good foundation not only about eating good but about feeling good about ourselves.”
If you are interested in attending the benefit concert or for more information, please contact Josie Mercado Chavez at (928) 627-5050.
KYMA 2019
