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US (WI): Bay View schools cultivate agriculture and nutrition know-how

Over the last decade, elementary and high schools throughout Milwaukee and the nation have begun installing gardens and greenhouses that are employed as a multifaceted teaching tool. In addition to getting fresh air and gaining access to nutritious food, students gain fundamental garden skills and learn about sustainable food systems, nutrition, botany, and life skills.

A number of Bay View schools have agricultural programs in their curriculum and raised bed gardens on their grounds. Two have aquaponics labs. The Compass contacted the neighborhood’s schools and here is what we learned from those who responded to our request for information about the neighborhood schools’ ag and nutrition programs.

Through Dentice’s efforts, Parkside has formed a partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin to study how nutrition education has a positive effect on students — specifically on behavioral referrals, self-
efficacy, confidence, and body mass index.

Members of the partnership have initiated a pilot this fall that involves two classrooms that Dentice visits as a mentor, for 45 minutes each week. She teaches the students about nutrition and enhances her lessons with hands-on activities. Additionally, Parkside parents will be offered culinary arts classes.

The parents of the children receiving Dentice’s nutrition education will be invited to the school to learn about nutrition and to cook with local chefs using fresh and nutrient-dense ingredients.

Dentice was given access to two hoop houses (formerly used by Growing Power) on the grounds of the public gardens near Sixth and Norwich streets and is working with local community members to renovate them.

The hoop houses will be incorporated into the Parkside program in January. Staff and students who are growing fresh food year-round in the raised beds and in the recently finished aquaponics lab, will also grow in the hoop houses.

Read more at The Bay View Compass (Sheila Julson)
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