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Category Archives: green sugar press news
What the Hell’s Going On?
When I began this journey (Environmental Education), I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I figured, if we get kids outside to play and to learn about how nature works, we’ll improve our health and accelerate the transition towards an economy where our species ‘fits in.’ Now, years later, after reading everything I could get my hands on, loads of heated debate and time in hundreds of classrooms with thousands of kids, I know a … Read more!
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A Story of Two Farms
Farm A: 1000 acres of corn and soybeans managed by one part-time farmer (with help from lots of subsidized oil, chemicals and a couple big machines). The harvested crops feed livestock, cars and food processing centers. The farm poisons the water, erodes the soil and pollutes the air. The fraction of their crop that enters our bodies as ‘cheap’ corn-fed meat and junk food makes us sick and raises healthcare costs. And this farmer gets … Read more!
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Farming in Nature’s Image
Humans spent the last 10,000 years struggling to obtain enough calories, often just squeaking out an existence. Here we are in the 21st century and we grow far more than enough food to provide adequate calories to every man, woman and child on earth. Consider that the population at the advent of farming was 3M (rough estimate) and we’ll hit 7B this year and the feat’s even more remarkable. So, when talking food, why is … Read more!
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Nature as Mentor…
Fresh Food with a Fresh Paint Job
I love Einstein quotes. Here’s one of my favorites: “We can’t solve problems using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” It comes to mind when I hear, “We’ve got to get the economy going again.” Yet, if there’s no longer a correlation between the USA’s growing GDP with quality of life (we’re less happy now than forty years ago and easy … Read more!
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It’s All Truck Farm Chicago, All the Time…
Truck Farm Chicago’s inaugural tour is nearly four months in (now powered by biodiesel from Loyola University) and we’re giving away cherry tomatos to anyone who asks.
During a Truck Farm visit the other day, a young grandmother asked, “If you don’t sell anything from your little farm, what do you do with it?” So, while her grandkids sampled produce and painted veggies on the truck, I explained our mission: connecting kids to food & … Read more!
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We live in crazy times. Yet, with chaos comes opportunity.
To unlock the opportunity, remember: “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” -Einstein
The Green Sugar Project looks broadly, explores connections and learns through doing. With nature as our guide, we work on What’s Possible. Designing for abundance is an idea whose time has come. But that idea needs legs.
Take a deep … Read more!
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‘Farm-on-Wheels’ brings dirt, science, fun, farming and food through Chicago this Summer
Props are good. I like props, so I knew Truck Farm Chicago would work. With a ‘farm-on-wheels’ that lets kids harvest and eat food, it’s easy to engage in conversations about health. I just wasn’t sure the plants would like being on the bumpy road day after day. Well, from the kale to the onions and spinach, to the chard and broccoli, we’re growing food. And yesterday we harvested the first fruit from our strawberry … Read more!
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Tagged children, Farm on Wheels, farm to school, food desert, health, wellness
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Truck Farm Chicago is on Tour!!
I have dirt under my fingernails and it feels great. The sun rises higher and our crops grow taller. We visit kids and laugh. Life is good. Check out the latest project- A Green Sugar Press and Seven Generations Ahead collaboration: Truck Farm Chicago.
It’s about engaging kids in conversations on food; how it grows, where it grows and why it matters. From toddlers to teens, our programming runs the gamut, from planting seeds … Read more!
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Tagged school visits, Truck Farm Chicago
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If standardized tests aren’t the answer, what is?
I’ve yet to meet a teacher that believes existing standardized tests are a fully adequate measure of student performance. And I’ve yet to meet a business executive that hires (for careers that pay well) based on how well applicants do at rote memorization and linear thinking.
So, how should we spend time in schools and how do we measure student performance?
I’ve written about Whole Child Education before, but here’s a great site, here. And … Read more!
Posted in Education, green sugar press news
Tagged children's education, testing, whole child, whole child education
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Sir Ken Robinson on Creativity, TED talks
I’ve been a big fan of TED talks. TED conferences happen all over the world and the brief talks/presentations are available for free at ted.com. Listening to them while in my car makes me immune to Chicago traffic. Why mention it here? There are a number of TED speakers with great insight into children and education.
Three of my favorite:
- Kiran Bir Sethi– empowering children
- Aimee Mullins – the opportunity of adversity
- Sir
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