Agriculture in the Classroom

Teaching "an apple a day...." still counts in the classroom.

After asking my girlfriend how her day was at work the other day, I learned about an agricultural initiative focusing on children and grade schools. As a public health nurse she works closely with school district #61 here in Victoria. Within the schools, part of her role is to promote a healthy school environment and healthy student lifestyle. A way for her to achieve these goals is to connect the schools with applicable community initiatives and programs.

She explained a particular initiative she explained to me called 'The BC School Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Program'. Using only BC grown fruit and vegetable produce, schools connected with the program are delivered 1 serving of produce per student and school staff member twice a month. The benefits of a program such as this affects many in the school community and agricultural throughout BC.

Children at a young age have the opportunity to learn about healthy nutrition which encourages a healthy community and lifelong values for this generation. School staff have the opportunity to participate and be role models for students by eating healthy fruit and vegetables with the children in the classroom. This healthy nutrition awareness in the classroom can then be taken from the classroom back home with the students to thier families to further promote healthy lifestyle choices in the home, hopefully putting pressure on their parents to start purchasing locally as well. It teaches these students and their families about local produce that they have access to, and that they can choose it over foreign produce.

Local BC farmers promote consumption of their fruit and vegetables through the initiative, which in turn boosts BC economy. Green house gasses and emissions are reduced as less transportation of the products is needed. Partnerships created in this initiative are through the Overwaitea Food Group; Dynamex Couriers; the BC Ministries of Health, Education, Agriculture and Lands; Community Nutritionist of BC; Act Now BC; and various BC farms and produce suppliers who encourage community development and sustainability.

I think this a great program and really capatilizes on social capital. It is effective because it is starting at the bottom, with the kids....What will your resonse be when your son asks why you don't purchase local produce?

Check it out at http://www.aitc.ca/bc/programs/snack-program/program-information.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, a local apple a day keeps the recession away.

Measure once, Cut twice, Pay Twice

Sustainable building and infrastructure has gained much popularity in the last few years, WHY?

Is it because everyone wants to fit the 'Green Model'? I hope so, yet I doubt it. Economics, why people make the decisions they do, has always interested me and inspired me to ask- why? Typically the answer comes down to......... bones, bills, green, denaros, cash, loot, the wad, etc.

I have asked a few business men why sustainable building? More than once I have gotten the answer, " I don't give a **** about the environment, but this green thing works. Not only does a green check increase the value, but it is saving me money in the long run." More efficient appliances, better insulation and higher quality materials may cost more up front, but energy efficiency saves money and better quality lasts longer. Statistical analysis has proven that sustainable building may cost more upfront, take longer to mature but pays in the end. We were shown a very interesting graph in class portraying this, however I do not have access to it at the moment.

Sure, some individuals do care about the environment and will alter their habits for environmental benefit. This is great; however the majority of people are not willing to take on significant cost in doing so. Why do people ride their bikes? One reason may be to reduce GHG's, however there are typically many complimentary reasons; exercise, savings on gas, quicker, lack of ulterior transportation. I am guilty here, I ride my bike because I enjoy it, for health and monetary rewards. I do enjoy doing my part to reduce GHG's however this is not the subject my decision is based on.

In terms of sustainable building I think it is a great idea, and may want to pursue it in my future. Building self sustaining communities makes sense. The measure once, cut twice, pay twice mentality that has occurred in past booms seemed an easy way to make some quick coin, but now it is starting to cost and people are starting to agree that it was not worth it.

Facebook

What an interesting website that took the world by storm.

It was probably three years ago now that I first heard about facebook. My initial reaction was, "what a ridiculous idea." I couldn't figure out why you would want to post random pictures of yourself on a website... what was the catch? My friends continued to sign up and invite me, insisting that I should check it out. Word of mouth is typically a very strong seller, in this case however, it did not close the deal. It wasn't until many of my friends had already signed up that I considered it. It seemed to be the norm. Sure enough, I signed up to see what all the fuss was about and soon became addicted just as the rest of them.

Why is one lured in? Is it that connection to friends, the mysteriousness about it, the social concept? I'm not exactly sure, although I hardly know anyone that does not have it these days. My mom still doesn't but many aunts and uncles, the old and the young do.

I admit, I do not have the time to visit, or call many of my friends, this way I can sort of keep up. The mobility of people today seems so great that one soon ends up with connections all over. One can also really start to see the map of inter-connections. Work, family, friends, common interests...it seems you know someone, who knows someone else who you know. The "my sisters, friends, mom's, uncle's, boss's niece" kind of thing (this may be amplified for me as I am from Saskatchewan).

Events can be organized, group messages can be sent, common interest groups can be started. There are many many ways that facebook can be used as a networking tool. But does it lead to increased social capitol?

Instead of calling, people are messaging. Instead of going for tea, they are looking at pictures...? I think in some essences it does, I can say "going to Edmonton" in my profile, a friend may see that and let me know he will be in town at the same time, enabling us to meet up. In a separate case instead of calling to talk, I may just check out their profile, them un-knowing, and eliminate that communication factor.

Facebook originated from Harvard students as a social networking tool, which it is extremely effective and recently passed myspace as the most widely used. I think the 300 million USD revenue proves the ingenious design and popularity.

Anyway it is interesting....and I doubt I could delete my account.