Did You Know Community Gardens Could Save 'Failing' Brooklyn Public Schools?

Did You Know Community Gardens Could Save ‘Failing’ Brooklyn Public Schools?

To increase access to healthy, local foods, I move to develop the Brooklyn Sustainable Agriculture Program (BASP) in “failing” Title 1 public schools in Brooklyn NYC. This green education through community gardens will improve nutrition, fodder leadership development and life skills, and encourage wellness for a more sustainable future for our students and children.

Who Are We Talking About?

20 Schools In Kings County, N.Y. (Brooklyn) who are “failing.”

      Peace Academy, “fourth consecutive year failing since 2005-2006”, 89% free and reduced price lunch, 99.4% minorities

Automotive High School 10 years failing.  95% free and reduce lunch, 99.4% minorities

What Is Failing?

I introduce to you, my small international audience, Andrew Cuomo, Gov. of N.Y. He believes that when schools have persistently low-test scores, they should lose democratic control. So basically, it’s low-test scores. But who’s to blame? What can we do to change this endemic system?

DO YOU GET THE PICTURE?

The list of schools goes on and on with eighteen other schools- some have been failing for 15 years. Something has to be done…

Let's Try An Example...

This is W.E. Dubois High School on 402 Eastern Parkway. It samples self-paced academics, however features no internship program. The daily attendance is 63%. Only 36% are enrolled in college after high school, and 0% of special needs students are enrolled in college after graduation. 

 

This is Eastern Parkway coalition garden 1029 Union Street in Brooklyn. The transport police took plot over for a parking lots, however with assistance from the GreenThumb program, GrowNYC gardeners raised money and cleaned the plot.

  

LET’S HEAR THE CRAZY IDEA

·      1. Reach out and make connections between Title 1 Brooklyn Schools to nearby existing Brooklyn community gardens advertised on GrowNYC webpage,http://www.grownyc.org/openspace/gardens/bk

·       2. Implement a weekly extracurricular program to visit and cultivate a community garden. In this example, I would connect W.E. Dubois High School with Eastern Coalition Garden. 

·      3. Cultivating a consistent relationship between garden and school weekly addresses two problems with current expeditionary learning

a. Visits just are not frequent enough for project-based learning and retention of material

b. ACCESS Field trips cost money that most students, as show in the statistics above, do not have.  

            HOW WILL WE DO IT

·      We will apply for Grow to Learn mini grant supported by the NYC Department of Education Sustainability Office

Grants range from 500 to 3,000 dollars. This can cover possible transportation cost, books, and teacher development

To prep for this program, I would advise teachers to utilize New York Agriculture Into Classroom http://www.agclassroom.org/ny that contextualizes science, social studies, and nutrition education linked to Common Core standards.

. Having one common project would bring school and community together would contextualize the work they currently do, and improve nutrition, emphasize leadership skills, and encourage wellness.

WHY URBAN AGRICULTURE WORKS

Improve Nutrition: Gardeners consumed fruits and veggies “5.7 times per day.” 
Encourages Life Skills/Leadership Development: 5 percent of the U.S. workforce is employed in agriculture-related careers” according to the American Farm Bureau Federation, Over 50,000 jobs for college graduates in the agricultural, food and renewable natural resources sectors created annually from 2010-2015, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.   
Emphasize Wellness: At local level, community gardens praised for therapeutic qualities,  In a study, 30 gardeners performed stressful tasks than worked in a garden. The result? Solitary cortisol level decreased (stressed decreased)

·      

Don’t you want “civic spaces that grow food, provide valuable open space, and serve as dynamic classrooms for NYC school children?”  (Grow NYC)

PROGRAMS ALREADY IN PLACE

Urban Agriculture Program Link

http://www.grownyc.org

http://www.greenthumbnyc.org

Let’s all join the conversation about urban gardening in the Greater New York City Area! Tweet me @thinkzoeboost or insta me at @thinkzoeboost so we can talk more about this really relevant issue!

Namaste,
Zoe

5 Key Benefits Of Self-Care

Hey everyone! So today, I wanted to talk about some ways I choose to take care of me. I'm like every other person in the world, finding time for me in the midst of life is really, really difficult. But, it is nonetheless important. Note to my wonderful readers: taking care of your self is individual, because our selfs are distinctive and beautiful in their own right: AM I RIGHT OR WHAT? So, here we go on a magic carpet right of self-fulfillment....

1. A CLEAR MIND

Exercise, hikes through nature, and walking can help clear a busy, thought-filled mind. 

2. A HAPPY TUMMY

Indulging in your favorite treats isn't a bad thing. No shame! It is good to indulge in a funnel cake, and enjoy, just not every day. 

3. CONFIDENCE GALORE

In setting aside time to honor yourself, your confidence will skyrocket: you know you are awesome, no matter what! You got this.  

 4. CREATIVITY

Self-care can help you hone in to what you are truly moved by, and interested in. Culinary endeavors will be all the more adventurous! 

5. POWER

With self-care, you shine bright with the power of your happiness in your hands. You can choose to have a good day or bad day. 

Namaste,

Zoe

*Thank you all so much for reading and enjoying ThinkZoeBoost. If you enjoyed this post and others, feel free to like ThinkZoeBoost on Facebook,  Twitter, Instagram and contact via Email for more recipes, life-hacks, and inspiration. 

10 Point Checklist: The Pumpkin Patch

What are your feelings about fall? Whether you love it or dread it, the season of autumn is in full swing on this side of the woods. A needed activity of fall is pumpkin picking- as a wellness centered and vegan and vegetarian chef, I love pumpkin patches and their adjoining farmer's markets (see my post Quick Guide: Apple Orchard  for more info) because of the fresh, local produce. I felt like in the post embracing some irony and sarcasm! So, here we go, my slightly scandolous attempt at comedy writing with a 10 Point Checklist: The Pumpkin Patch! 

1. GET SOME PUMPKINS! 

We chose two medium sized pumpkins and a small oddly colored gourd- go for the weird, different looking pumpkins: MIX IT UP! Note to the parents with young children: pumpkins are priced by weight, so don't buy one super large pumpkin per child. Your wallet will thank me later. 

2. GO WITH FAMILY 

3. HANG OUT WITH SOME FURRY FRIENDS. 

AKA: COW. 

4. INDULGE, BABE. YOU DESERVE IT. 

5. GET ON THAT HAY RIDE. JUST DO IT. 

A Perfect opportunity for your inner- goddess child to come out. Embrace it- embrace the wonder in picking that damn pumpkin, pumpkin:)

6. FIND A BIG RED BARN. A NECESSARY ENDEAVOR. 

7. TAKE A SUNLIT PHOTO UPON THE ORCHARD. 

You will feel very artsy and shit. 

8. FIND ANOTHER FURRY FRIEND. IMMEDIATELY. 

Like now, stop what you're doing, and find a bird. 

9. TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR CONVERSE.

Because why the f*ck not? 

10. ZOE'S QUICK TIP: STOP TAKING YOURSELF TOO SERIOUSLY. 

As I have tried with this post, let yourself enjoy your life with comedy, humor- let your inner child flourish!

Namaste,

Zoe

*Thank you all so much for reading and enjoying ThinkZoeBoost. If you enjoyed this post and others, feel free to like, follow, and contact us on Facebook, Email, Twitter & Instagram for more recipes, life-hacks, and inspiration. 

Quick Guide: Apple Orchard

Hey everyone! The winds are changing, the leafs transforming into a myriad of colors...so what time is it? FALL! My favorite season, fall allows for beautiful trips to pumpkin patches, making homemade comfort food with spices galore, and just quality time with the family. What can beat that? For the next month, my recipes/lifestyle pieces will depict and be all about this lovely season we call autumn- and how to celebrate this season of change, color, family, and friends! Here we go: QUICK GUIDE: APPLE ORCHARD coming' your way blogosphere!

 PHOTOS TO REMEMBER

Take some obnoxiously self-serving photos to showcase the beauty of the apples, macintosh in our case, and take that selfie that will become your Facebook profile picture. Just embrace it- it's your day! 

THE CHOICE: APPLE ORCHARD

My farmer's market/apple orchard nearest to my college- my recommendation for choosing a market is to find one that is in your local town/ vicinity. It's important to maintain and support local grown agriculture and products. 

ARTISANAL FOOD PRODUCTS 

Some of the best  speciality artisanal items can come at an INEXPENSIVE price at the fall farmer's store. Just do your research- don't pay $20 for a rare squash. Know coming in, via email, or web search what the apple orchard market's speciality is-at this farm coffee ice cream, blueberry pie, and apple pie. You won't disappointed. 

FAMILY  & FRIENDSHIP

Always pick a buddy or friend group to go with you on your adventure! Here is my friend Annaka looking all beauteous in that light; work it girl! It makes it all the more fun and enjoyable when you have pals to gab with (and carry your purse when you want to climb a tree!) 

JAMS AND JELLIES

At almost every fall farmer's market- there will be jelly and jams on sale that are usually home-made in house. Ask to sample new flavors, and ask customers in the store what their favorites are. These are always FABULOUS PRESENTS for the holidays for relatives or that special someone. Can really ump the ante on a piece of toast- worth the money. 

PUMPKINS

Also at these wonderful markets are pumpkins for sale- my recommendation is if you have children or are looking for a more authentic experience, and the market offers a hayride- JUST DO IT! It's amazing fun, and if you forget that you are covered in dirt and uncomfortable sitting on a bale of hay, it can become an amazing tradition! But, if you're a college student like me, and hay-rides are just not your thing, picking up a low-weight, inexpensive pumpkin can be wonderful fall activity to take part in!

ZOE'S QUICK TIP: SMART SHOPPIN' PRODUCE

Get your life with some produce! As fall comes in and summer leaves us in a whoosh, fall produce will be on sale! Get some inexpensive quality produce that you can cook with, and plan healthy, wholesome, well-balanced meals with! Your welcome in advance. 

Namaste, and Happy Fall!

Zoe 

*Thank you all so much for reading and enjoying ThinkZoeBoost. If you enjoyed this post and others, feel free to like, follow, and contact us on Facebook, Email, Twitter & Instagram for more recipes, life-hacks, and inspiration. 

The 10 Best Self-Love Quotes Of All Time

Hello everyone! After a bit of break, and starting college for the fall semester, I thought that showcasing 10 of my favorite Quotes could remind us of how enterally beautiful and special we all are. Hope you enjoy THE 10 BEST SELF-LOVE QUOTES OF ALL TIME. 

"Talk to yourself like you would talk to someone you love."

"Imagine if we be obsessed about the things we loved about ourselves... Date yourself. Take yourself out to eat alone. Stroll around an art museum alone. Fall in love with yourself. "

"Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself." 

"What screws up most in life is the picture in our head of how it's supposed to be. "

"Be always in bloom... Take the time to do what makes your soul HAPPY." 

"LET GO of thoughts that don't make you strong." 

"The greatest challenge in life is discovering who you are. The second greatest is being happy with what you find."

"Happy people focus on things they love about their life... Concentrate your mind on the present moment." 

"When something goes wrong in your life, yell Plot Twist! And move on... Trust the journey, love it, and enjoy it. " 

Namaste,

Zoe

*Thank you all so much for reading and enjoying ThinkZoeBoost. If you enjoyed this post and others, feel free to like, follow, and contact us on Facebook, Email, Twitter & Instagram for more recipes, life-hacks, and inspiration! Love you:)