When I see what other school garden programs around the country have accomplished- most notably Alice Water’s inspired Edible Schoolyard – I have the tendency to assume they have either a lot of money, a lot of retired volunteers, or only happen in a culturally creative college town. I’ve seen the photos and read the stories of the kids eating the collard greens with skepticism- it’s a nice idea but is it lasting? Can you really keep their attention with the hard work of gardening? Do they really get it? Can it happen here?

I knew my 5-year old daughter “got it” when we were driving down the road in Teton Valley this spring and she shouted out the window a greeting to the fresh soil, had a tantrum about not being able to eat purple carrots in December , and helped me identify which weeds I needed to pull in our strawberry patch. Erika Eschotz, the dedicated dreamer behind the grass roots non-profit Teton Farm and Garden, a “seed to plate community education program,” has worked with the kids all summer in their own garden and at Cosmic Apple Farm planting, weeding, harvesting, eating, painting and writing. They are ready to show off.

Come see for yourself the potential for a new generation at our 1st annual Harvest Garden Party on August 17, 2007. This event is a fundraiser for the Teton Farm and Garden’s “seed to plate community education program” and the Summer Adventure Camp. It is collaboration with Slow Food in the Tetons and is a scheduled stop for the Sustainable Table/Eat Well Guide’s National Tour across country to the Farm Aid Concert in New York.

For information and tickets visit Slow Food in the Tetons

Please remember Slow Food in the Tetons and Teton Farm and Garden when you give to OLD BILLS FUN RUN. All Slow Food funds raised will go into a fund for Local School Lunch and Wellness Programs.