The goal of the grants, in line with the goals of Let’s Move, is to teach students about gardening and nutrition as well as to provide fresh produce for school meals (one of the greatest culprits of an unhealthy generation). If the gardens flourish, it’s also possible that the yield will be given to students’ families, local food banks and senior-center nutrition programs.

Kevin Concannon, USDA Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services (whatever that is!) points out that school gardens don’t only provide fresh produce, they also “give kids exposure to where food comes from and encourage them to try foods they might not otherwise try. They give teachers an opportunity to talk about soil, water, sun, health and science, and the gardens can be used for math and art programs.”

According to Mike Metallo of the National Gardening Association, it’s a good estimate to say that, currently, between fifteen and twenty percent of schools nationwide have gardens. The National Gardening Association, in fact, has given out over nine thousand grants totaling close to four million dollars since 1982 in support of school gardens. It looks like a certain organization was ahead of its time!

The truth is, no matter what happens with Pepsi taking its products out of schools and parents learning to pack healthier lunches, the way to change the obesity problem in the United States involves education both about eating and about physical activity. School gardens are an excellent way to begin that, particularly in high-poverty areas where food deserts are prevalent and fresh produce is not often a part of the mix.

Honestly? Had we been allowed to devote one period of our day to being in the community school garden when we were in school, we would have done it in a heartbeat and dropped that silly wood shop class.