With Americans moving farther from the farm then ever—and New Yorkers farther than most—a 113-year-old Manhattan organization aims to reverse the trend in poor communities and around the five boroughs with their third annual family-friendly fundraiser.
The Horticultural Society of New York—the Hort, for short—seeks to make New York greener and to educate children that not only does dinner not come from a takeout container, it does not come from a bag in the freezer.
“We raise children in a box. They are totally disconnected from nature,” says executive director Sara Hobel. “For the most part, they’re afraid of nature. Mostly what they eat has been prepared for them.”
The goal of the Hort is to connect people and plants, with the goal being that a love of nature will resonate with children, says co-chair of the board of directors Mary Van Pelt.
The idea that daily exposure to plants—maybe just even a few potted houseplants—is more beneficial than longer periodic trips to national forests, the Hort had its third annual Green Bean Bash and fundraiser at Temple Israel on February 7. More than 450 mostly elementary school children and parents attended. Stations included praying mantises, a make-your-own-pickle stand, a tunnel crawl race, worm bin exploration, and an area to learn about carnivorous plants.
Since getting children to eat a healthy and varied diet is a universal challenge not limited to any one community, Hobel offered a few tips for parents of finicky eaters:
*Add a square of unsweetened dark chocolate to chili for a mole sauce.
*Have children make their own salad dressings with a squeeze of orange and some spices.
*Let kids doctor their veggies and meats with a combo of salts, salad dressings, lime and other sauces.
*Involve kids in the cooking and growing of food.
For children who don’t always ascribe to the My Plate philosophy (half the plate being vegetables, one-quarter being meat and the remainder starch), don’t worry. “Look at the week, not the meal,” Hobel says. “And even if they don’t do so well, they’re not going to starve.
To learn more about the Hort, visit thehort.org!
