Food
for thought as Deakin assesses Kitchen Garden Project
Most people agree - the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Project seems like a pretty good idea.
But just how good? Well it has become the job of a group of researchers from Deakin to answer that question.
The team comprises Dr Lisa Gibbs and Dr Mardie Towsend from Deakin’s School of Health and Social Development and Dr Petra Staiger and Susie Macfarlane from the School of Psychology.
“I think we all feel that what Stephanie Alexander did at the Collingwood College in 2001 when she set up her first kitchen garden is a good idea simply because it aims to give children a better idea of what they are eating,” Dr Gibbs explained.
“That’s no doubt why the Victorian Government has funded the introduction of another 40 kitchen gardens in primary schools in the State.
“In turn, VicHealth has funded Deakin University to carry out the evaluation program.
“It is important to be able to demonstrate just what difference the program makes.
“”The things we will be focussing on are whether the project’s goals are universally achievable in all schools, or just some schools.
“Certainly our approach will be outcomes based, whether children are prepared to try new foods as a result of their involvement, whether they have new and expanded food vocabulary and whether they can confidently prepare and grow foods for themselves as a result of their experience of being involved in the project.”
“We will also be assessing whether it has an impact on the school as a whole. Does the program make the school a more positive place to work and study?
The Kitchen Garden Project is the brainchild of the celebrity chef, food writer and concerned citizen, Stephanie Alexander.
“I found myself thinking more and more about the ways in which children learn about food,” Stephanie Alexander said, explaining the inspiration for the project.
“For many children, there is no way they can relate the food they see in bottles, packs and jars with soil, sunshine, ripeness and satisfying activity.
“I am convinced that changes in food choices do not come about as a result of cautionary advice, charts of pyramids, but by example and in positive experiences.
“I wanted to investigate whether by creating and caring for an extensive vegetable garden and then preparing and cooking the harvested produce, young children could develop greater enjoyment of flavour and texture, a better understanding of cultural and culinary difference and an increased understanding of the relationship between growing things and caring for the environment.”
The first garden was established at the Collingwood College in 2001, Each week children aged between seven and 13 spent a single period in the garden and a double period in the kitchen.
In 2004 the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation was established.
In 2006, after Stephanie Alexander lobbied with her accustomed élan, the Victorian Government agreed to set up 40 new kitchen gardens at a cost of $2.5 million.
The first 20 of these get underway this year, with another 20 to follow in 2009.
Dr Gibbs is well qualified for her role in the evaluation process.
With research interests in child obesity, injury prevention and oral health, she has also been managing the fun’n healthy in Moreland! program in inner-Melbourne.
This is a school and community based obesity prevention and health promotion project recognised for its worth by a visit from the Prince of Wales during his most recent trip to Australia.
“Fun’n healthy has essentially the same goals as the Kitchen Garden Project but each has a different way of going about things,” Dr Gibbs explained.
“Stephanie Alexander’s love of food (Stephanie as seen above second from right) drives her program while fun’n healthy has a broader health-based approach, encouraging young children to be more active as well as to eat more sensible foods.”
The definitive results of the Deakin University evaluation of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Projects will be finalised at the end of a two-year program.