A Growing Movement

Muscling through: John Miranda, athletic director at Princeton Regional Schools, kneads fresh pasta while Melanie Miller, modern living teacher at John Witherspoon Middle School, questions his technique. Nino Galastro, right, of Terra Momo Restaurant Group, makes fresh spinach pasta.

More than 56 participants – educators, administrators and community gardeners – from across the Garden State gathered in Princeton in March to learn about establishing and expanding edible schoolyard gardens. Our day-long workshop, began with a discussion by Dorothy Mullen, PSGC co-founder, of foods and nutrients that children need for optimum learning. A panel of educators, including John Miranda, athletic director and wellness committee chair of Princeton Regional Schools and Liz Cutler, teacher and environmental education coordinator at Princeton Day School, discussed ways to integrate gardens – with their myriad benefits – into existing curricular requirements. Diane Landis, PSCG co-founder, and Kim McReynolds, grants writer for Princeton Regional Schools, talked about working with teachers, parents, local businesses and administration officials to build support and funding. The workshop ended with Chris Albrecht, executive chef at Eno Terra restaurant in Kingston, leading a cooking demonstration – and tastings – of fresh pasta flavored and paired with typical produce from a school garden