Growing+food

We will flush out an episode on how kids can grow food in their surrounding environment, and how important it is to connect to one's own environment.


 * Title of episode:** //You say Tomato, I say Tomahto//
 * Ideas for the problem (segment 1: real life problem):**
 * There is a tomato scare, so all tomatoes are pulled from the market. At first the kid doesn't see the problem, but then realizes how widespread tomato use is (there's no sauce for his pizza, ketchup for his French fries, no spaghetti sauce, etc.)
 * sends a message/text/tweet/wall post to his/her other playscapers, they reconvene at the playground


 * Ideas for experiments (segment 2: fantasy world):**
 * The kids congregate at the playground and look into the future using some magic part of the playground (like a plastic glass screen) to see into the future -- and grocery stores have no fruits or vegetables - those that do look picked over and/or unedible (so as not to make it so desolate).
 * They use x-ray vision and magnifying mirrors to look at the roots of each of their surroundings... roots are dried up, not getting enough water, quality treatment etc
 * Kids consult with Uche... "we want to do //something//, we know we can..." with a little help from Uche, they begin to roll out their gardening plans
 * The kids decide that they have to grow their own food, and encourage others to do the same


 * The kids experiment with how to get seeds:
 * Save seeds from existing fruits and vegetables and plant those - does not work very well.
 * Get seeds from a garden center.
 * Buy seeds online?
 * Grandma's heirloom seeds that she's been saving, etc.
 * The kids experiment with how to create good soil:
 * Compost
 * Check Local sanitized waste facilities
 * Aerating the existing soil in the garden by tilling what's there


 * The kids experiment with getting water for the plant:
 * Rain barrel
 * Irrigation channels
 * mulch to contain the soil
 * soaker hoses
 * Slow-release water bags


 * Potential places to visit
 * Coop store
 * Community garden
 * Botanical Garden that has a special children garden (like at The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, VA


 * Misc. ideas
 * Teach kids that no apples mean no apple juice, apple sauce, etc.
 * Teach kids about hybrid fruits and veggies
 * Nutritional value of picking food ripe (in your own garden) versus for them to ripen after being picked (from grocery stores)
 * The benefical use of insects---bees, worms, and ones that kill parasites.
 * The cycle of growing time--gardening teaches patience, nurturing, cultivation, stewardship and husbandry
 * Impact of weather and critters
 * Cycle of life---seasons.
 * Resources--soil, water, etc.
 * Conservation, ecology, climatology, resource management
 * Organic farming vs. commercial farming
 * Pesticides?


 * Ideas for transferring the knowledge back to the kid viewers' lives (segment 3: real life application):**
 * Kids go back to their own homes and plant gardens. Maybe one will live in a small condo with no yards and plants in a barrel. Maybe one will do a roof top garden, one will plant in a yard, etc.


 * Web ideas:**
 * Grow your own garden game with a green thumb icon for a "thumbs up good job" reward.
 * Trivia or other educational challenges where kids get a certificate to bring to a garden company that we partner with to get free seeds
 * Videos or handouts on how to plant your own garden at home
 * Podcast of children from other countries growing gardens in other lands---different climates tolerate certain types of foods---for example, show kids a Texas farm where watermelons grow best; show kids fruit grown in the desert such as date trees, the prickly pear cactus---any plant will grow well in desert soil b/c it is actually very fertile--just needs water. Show kids seaweed in Japan that is grown for food.
 * blog/forum (moderated by staff) for viewers to relate ideas and tips to one another


 * Possible Partnerships:

Alice Waters: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/11/alice-waters-and-obamas-kitchen-cabinet/?scp=2&sq=Alice%20Waters&st=cse Build a Bear/Playground: http://www.buildabear.com/****
 * Natural Playground Company:** http://naturalplaygrounds.com**/