Real Life Science (and Nutrition): Sharing Farm-Fresh Veggies With Kids
Getting farm fresh vegetables helps your children understand the seasons. Around here, there are very distinct growing and dormant seasons, yet we can get fresh strawberries and lettuce all year round. While this is useful for cooking, it doesn’t really give kids a sense of what grows when. I love the anticipation of waiting for the first local peaches, the first tart apples, and the first spring greens.
What is that vegetable that looks like a spaceship? (It’s kohlrabi). What is that long, spicy vegetable that is shaped like a carrot? (It’s daikon). Even kids who are less than friendly to new vegetables can have fun figuring out what they are, where they come from originally, and perhaps sampling a little just to see what they taste like.
Of course, getting farm fresh vegetables also helps you and your children understand nutrition. I find that a box of vegetables that arrives every week induces a vegetable-related panic. What on EARTH am I going to do with all of this produce? And then I discovered kale chips, green smoothies, and so many more ways to get the greens into our diet. When the greens are there and you use them, the children see how they form the basis of your food.
Farm vegetable shares also help you get in touch with your local farmers. If you buy a share in a local farm, often you can go and volunteer on the farm, either on scheduled volunteer days, guided tours, or as a casual volunteer. Make sure that there are things for the children to do before you drop by so that the kids have a meaningful and educational experience on the farm.
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