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Edible Schoolyard | New Orleans
Welcome to the Edible Schoolyard New Orleans
Edible Schoolyard NOLA changes the way kids eat, learn and live at FirstLine Schools in New Orleans. Our goal is to improve the long-term well being of our students, families and school community.
"The garden helps me make healthy choices."- S. J. Charter 6th grader
Founded in 2006, Edible Schoolyard New Orleans (ESY NOLA) changes the way kids eat, learn, and live at five (5) FirstLine public charter schools in New Orleans. Our goal is to improve the long-term well being of our students, families, and school community. We do this by integrating hands-on organic gardening and seasonal cooking into the school curriculum, culture, and cafeteria programs. ESY NOLA involves students in all aspects of growing, harvesting, preparing and enjoying food together as a means of awakening their senses, cultivating a school environment that promotes a sense of pride and responsibility for our land and natural resources, and developing a love of fresh, seasonal foods.
Community News
FirstLine Schools cafeteria students enjoy some of the best school food in New Orleans served by Sodexo Food Service and FirstLine food service nutrition staff. On April 4th at John Dibert Community School, 50 students were invited to taste and rate new and existing menu items for next school year’s menu. Chicken Etouffee, asparagus and brussel sprouts, turkey burgers and garden burgers on whole wheat rolls were served and rated.
“Students would not try the fresh vegetables at first, without coaxing from the Edible Schoolyard New Orleans staff!” stated Chris Van Vliet, Director of Food Services for FirstLine Schools. “Most cleared everything on their plate and asked for seconds,” Van Vliet said.
April showers bring May…fruits and veggies! This Earth Day (Sunday, April 22nd) take a moment to plant a few seeds in your backyard or in pots that fit your well-lit kitchen window sill, and by Memorial Day weekend, you and your family could enjoy fresh, homegrown ingredients in your summer salads.
“Learning that the apple doesn’t come from the grocery store, but it grows on this tree is particularly important for kids ,” says Claudia Barker, executive director at Edible Schoolyard New Orleans, a six-year-old program modeled after the original founded by legendary chef and food activist Alice Waters in Berkeley, California in 1996. “Kids will be amazed at how quickly things grow and they’ll love to harvest something and then learn how to cook it,” says Barker, who oversees this fantastic food-to-table curriculum in five schools (serving 2,400 kids in K through 8th grade) in The Big Easy. “If they grow it and cook it, they’ll eat it,” she adds.
Check out a video about Taste the Rainbow, the first Family Food Night at John Dibert Community School.
View the video here on Vimeo