Green is the thumb that grows greens. Is there such a saying? Well, now there is. With today’s youth growing up in a world that is increasingly concerned with climate change, it’s only natural to get them involved with giving more attention to climate action.
“It’s a big system. We all have to find a place where we can express our passions and push the system from our little corner,” said Sunday Harrison, Director of Green Thumbs (also known as “Green Thumbs Growing Kids”). The for-impact food and nature literacy program, which came to the scene over three decades ago, and has evolved since, currently finds itself in three adjoining dense urban neighbourhoods in east downtown Toronto.
The program promotes environmental education through a holistic approach by creating a community for kids that fosters urban agriculture, social interaction, and green space enjoyment, all of which benefit children’s mental and physical health.
Last November I had the pleasure of chatting with Harrison, who gave me insight into how the program has been influenced by the pandemic, with its reach doubling since 2020 as there was the addition of online programs.
Pea Shoots is a two-part program where every kid gets a kit. The first part encompasses the educator walking students through the kits’ contents, and in part two, after the plant or food has grown, they learn more about what they have cultivated.
In the Trees from Seed program, pots with soil and tree seeds are given to the students, and each would sand down the seed and then soak it overnight. As Harrison detailed the activity for me, I reminisced about the plants that I had grown when I was in school, which actually didn’t comprise that many, although, my high school had a greenhouse where I grew the kale that my mom still has in her garden now. Harrison and I had a chuckle when she told me about a guide called Beyond the Bean Seed, which provides gardening activities for school-aged kids (that entails more than beans and cotton balls).
Harrison explained how schools let Green Thumbs continue during the pandemic, otherwise the gardens would grow out of control. And when restrictions were lifted, kids were able to enjoy in-person learning again. “Everyone is happy to be back in person and have that hands-on interaction,” said Harrison.
The children had helped with putting the gardens to bed for the winter as they spent the autumn season preparing for the coming year, including mulching, finishing the harvest, and cutting plants that were done producing. She is hoping that the kids will be able to participate and assist with the gardens this spring.
Normally, the schools would let students take home what they’ve grown, but as a health and safety measure, students didn’t have that opportunity the last two years. Over the summer, the youth staff at Green Thumbs harvested produce and brought it to local farmers’ markets.
Iris "Ike" Karuna, who sits on the board of directors, said how Green Thumbs was previously a vendor at the Regent Park Farmers' Market, but is now only a weekly vendor at Cabbagetown Farmers' Market during the growing season.
“The markets at Regent Park have been cancelled due to COVID-19, but will hopefully resume in the near future,” said Karuna. As this location strengthens Green Thumbs' relationship with community members who also participate in its other programs, it’s likely that many others are keeping their fingers crossed for the reopening of The Regent Park Farmers' Market.
When I shared with Harrison my affinity for dandelions, she told me about how she had lived in a house where the previous tenants had planted culinary dandelion. She explained that the plant has larger leaves and flowers than the common dandelion, bred especially for consumption.
“We inherited this garden that had these amazing dandelions that were definitely bigger, stronger, tastier, and milder than the usual,” said Harrison. However, she also expressed the importance of having variety in our diets and that it’s a matter of developing healthy habits. “We’ve become spoiled and addicted to sweet and salty treats, that bitterness becomes overlooked. But it’s important to have it as part of your diet,” said Harrison.
I was intrigued by the idea of growing dandelions, as I had only been familiar with the concept of foraging for them. And although I’m a believer of having a balanced diet (whatever that may look like for each of us) as different foods contain different nutrients, I hadn’t thought about the specific benefits of bitter foods. According to One Green Planet, they offset sugar cravings, balance hormones, cleanse the liver, and control cholesterol levels. And most bitter foods are high in fiber. Harrison also gave a tip to catch dandelions and consume the greens before they flower—talk about eating food while it's fresh!
To learn more about school gardens and support the movement, visit greenthumbsto.org.
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