Service Learning Reflection 3

• What did you do? 

 At the Sol Garden on the UNCA campus I learned how to plant seeds for the first time. I also harvested a bunch of different plants that the volunteers later divided up to take home. 

• In what ways has your service-learning experience enhanced your academic growth?

I have learned how to plant and harvest produce which will be very helpful in future because I plan to start a garden of my own when I move into a home. I've learned many new names of plants and how to recognize them as well as learning that certain leaves can be sour!!!! 

  

• In what ways has your service-learning experience enhanced your personal growth?

I always knew that gardening in theory was something I enjoyed but, after actually doing it I found that I love it! I find it very meditative and calming to be in your own head while digging into the dirt with the sun shining (hopefully). 

• In what ways has your service-learning experience enhanced your civic learning?  

I've learned that the Sol Garden is mostly for learning purposes. Before I volunteered there I was under the impression that they gave what they grew to the cooks in Brown Hall. The Sol Garden has also made a sense of family for me, I can always expect the same people there eagerly ready to help!

• What are your service-learning goals for the future?  

I want to continue working with the Sol Garden even after my service learning is over and also visit the other gardens on campus to see how they differ. 

"Will Organic Food Fail to Feed the World" and "Biotechnology Isn't The Key to Feeding the World"

In these pieces the authors debate whether or not the world has enough food to feed everyone and the short answer is: yes. As we continue to develop the way we grow and make food the answer might change to no. Farmers are now using fish to feed fish and cow to feed cow which takes away from the protein we as consumers can buy and eat. (Lappè 249)

The Ted Talk by Ron Finley he speaks about growing food and the benefits of it. I really enjoyed it because starting my own garden when I move to a house or apartment is a goal of mine. The way that healthy food and planting it as a community can change so much is inspiring. It can be so easy to learn to do is a reason we should all consider starting a garden. An important subject that Finley touched on was getting children to plant produce. This reminded me of FEAST and the great things they're doing to help our community in Asheville by teaching children about food and giving them hands on experience planting and cooking their own food. "If kids plant kale, they eat kale. If kids plant tomatoes, they eat tomatoes." says Finley and I couldn't agree more. If food education was a part of every elementary and middle school imagine how that generation could change their lives and the world.

"The Omnivore's Delusion" and "Real Food, Real Farming"

"The Omnivore's Delusion" by Blake Hurt and "Real Food, Real Farming" by Eliot Coleman show two sides and opinions on agriculture. Blake Hurt explains that farming is the way it is because of the consumers. Factory farming is necessary in this economy-- you can't expect farming to continue how it was in the1950s. Coleman argues that farming needs to become fully organic and animals need to be treated correctly when I think that that's verging on impossible. 

Don't get me wrong, I would love if all of our food options were free range, organic poultry, meat, and produce but it won't happen. The way our food industry is now we won't ever be able to turn back unless something huge changes. In my opinion I wish that the "invention" of food products wasn't a concept at all. How great would it be if there were never any Twinkies or Oreos; what even are those? Just chemicals mixed together and the whole world has bought into the idea that this is okay. Yes, of course I eat those mixtures of who-knows-what but if they were never an option I can't say I'd miss them. I've recently had the opportunity to eat completely organic, straight from the garden food and the taste is so different and delightfully tasty it really blows my mind about the ingredients farmers make our food with.