Edible Schoolyard: A Universal Idea - Hardcover

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.

Grade 6–9—Waters is founder of The Edible Schoolyard, a gardening and cooking program on the campus of a Berkeley, CA, middle school. An organic garden on school grounds is tended and harvested by students, with hands-on ecology and nutrition lessons woven into the curriculum. The book details the history of the program while passionately touting the physical, psychological, and spiritual benefits that arise from it. Bright photographs show the engaged youngsters at work and close-ups of the lush flora and garden fauna. Extensive back matter includes the principles of "edible education," food-related writings by some of the children, recipes, and notes that provide context for the photos on earlier pages. The text is essentially a long essay by Waters, a combination of chronology mixed with emotional storytelling. A bit rambly, and not really geared toward young readers, it may capture the interest of nature-loving kids but will likely be of more interest to adults. In a way, the whole package feels like a well-produced annual report or fundraising document for the program. Perhaps the best audience for the book would be principals looking for inspiring ideas to try at their own schools. A lovely product, but with narrow appeal to young readers.—Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL
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