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The Experimental Station has built a dynamic and expanding food education program in an ongoing effort to alter the purchasing behavior and food consumption patterns of Woodlawn’s low-income children, youth, and adults.
Photo Courtesy: The Experimental Station
The Experimental Station seeks to increase the affordability and accessibility of nutritious foods sold at Illinois farmers markets for low-income Illinoisans, rebuilding linkages between local agricultural producers and consumers. LINK Up Illinois is a program that helps achieve this goal by providing farmers markets across the state with funding for Link Match (formerly known as the Double Value Coupon program) for Link Card (Illinois’ SNAP program, formerly known as “food stamps”) shoppers. LINK Up Illinois also provides participating markets with training and technical assistance for implementing these programs successfully.
Photo Courtesy: Experimental Station
In 2013, we instituted a 3-level program for 2nd through 4th graders at Carnegie Elementary School (where 85% of students are low-income and time and resources to develop experience-based learning opportunities are low).
Photo Courtesy: Experimental Station
Second graders begin each spring with a 6-week healthy eating course. Students learn the benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables, how the fruits and vegetables are grown sustainably, which fruits and vegetables are grown locally, what they taste like, and when in the season they are grown.
Photo Courtesy: Experimental Station
Third graders participate in two 6-week gardening classes, taking place in the fall and the spring. Students learn to produce a food crop through planting, growing, and harvesting at our nearby hoop house at Jackson Park Terrace apartments.
Photo Courtesy: Experimental Station
Fourth graders are offered after-school cooking classes, held next door at Experimental Station, focused on local, healthy foods. Participants are given nutritional information on the dishes prepared, along with recipes so that they can be easily recreated at home.
We offer two Healthy Eating Workshops per year to the parents of 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade Carnegie School students themselves, including a tasting of one or two locally grown fruits and vegetables. Information is provided regarding the 61st Street Farmers Market and how the Market will double LINK purchases.
During the summer, Woodlawn youths can participate in a 10-week gardening program where they learn pruning and trellising of vegetables, succession planting, and harvesting techniques. Harvested produce is given to youths for preparation at home.
Additionally, we offer weekly fresh produce samplings at the local Department of Human Services office, along with fliers and magnets promoting the 61st Street Farmers Market.
The impact of all these experiences is immeasurable and deeply important when we consider how to better “connect with our food”.
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