The Edible Schoolyard Book

At a time when our Enviro Schools programe is being challenged by funding cuts, here is some inspiration to show what is possible. Do we need funding to do this, or can we self-organise and bring this sort of wisdom to our local schools, ourselves?

This video was created by Mario de La Vega to promote the Edible Schoolyard book, which chronicles the integration of academics with growing, cooking, and sharing wholesome, delicious food over the last 13 years. With inspiring images of the garden and kitchen—and their young caretakers—Edible Schoolyard is at once a visionary model for sustainable farming and childhood nutrition, and a call to action for schools across the country. Learn more >

Edible Schoolyard -- One of America's most influential chefs, Alice Waters created a revolution in 1971 when she introduced local, organic fare at her Berkeley, California, restaurant, Chez Panisse. Twenty-five years later, she and a small group of teachers and volunteers turned over long-abandoned soil at an urban middle school in Berkeley and planted the Edible Schoolyard. The schoolyard has since grown into a universal idea of Edible Education that integrates academics with growing, cooking, and sharing wholesome, delicious food. With inspiring images of the garden and kitchen—and their young caretakers—Edible Schoolyard is at once a visionary model for sustainable farming and childhood nutrition, and a call to action for schools across the country.

Alice Waters is president of the Chez Panisse Foundation, vice president of Slow Food International and the recipient of numerous awards. She is the author of many books including the Chez Panisse Cookbooks.

David Liittschwager is an award-winning photographer who has contributed to National Geographic.