CRUSH

"It is the prerogative of the competent and effective educators to re-imagine and reconstruct sound education systems in the 21stCentury that seek to empower all students to be active participants in all sectors of the community. World over some students face unprecedented challenges stemming from environmental problems, societal, cultural and geopolitical influences. Food insecurity, hunger and homelessness among other factors contribute to childhood trauma that has a devastating effect on the emotional, intellectual, psychological and social wellbeing of children usually in urban areas. Gone are the days when education was meant to help students to read, write and do the arithmetic. A holistic re-imagined approach is recommended that takes into account environmental sustainability, sufficient quality food production and wellness through effective engagement and collaboration." - Moses Rumano, Discoverer of "The Five Seed Project – Education for the 21st Century" and Head of the Education Department at Friends University, Wichita KS

"The dynamic impact of a local, class garden resonates throughout the Wichita community. As a high school environmental science teacher I understand the fundamental role regenerative agriculture has in providing a comprehensive solution to current environmental issues. These issues include: population growth, limited resources, viewing the world as an ecosystem, and healthy food production. To this end students in my class are introduced to the fundamentals of regenerative agriculture on a small scale through an ongoing vegetable garden project. Students growing vegetables in a local garden demystifies where food comes from and provides a model for them to produce highly nutritious food in their own yard. It also helps illustrate how regenerative practices can be ramped up to large-scale food production. They learn firsthand that a healthy soil ecosystem due to regenerative agriculture practices naturally and economically sequesters carbon, conserves water, reduces fossil fuel and synthetic fertilizer consumption, restores wildlife habitat, and improves food nutrition. The produce from the garden has a community impact as well because it is used by the school food service, sold in the local farmers market, and will be distributed to local food distribution ministries. The class garden project also provides an opportunity for high school students to pass on newly learned gardening skills to younger students at Collegiate as part of the garden project. Students have gone on to use these new skills in their own home gardens whose produce has been shared with others, thus building community." - David Trombold, Environmental Science Teacher at Wichita Collegiate School, W.A.S.I. Board Member