Monday 2 September 2013

Hungry Kids


Just wanted to direct your attention to an interesting post on The British Gardener. Here are two quotes:

"In November 2012, the U.S. Census Bureau said that more than 16% of the population lived in poverty, with 1.2% of that total living in extreme poverty."

"20% of America's children fall into the poverty bracket
with an estimated 16.1 million living in food insecure households."

The numbers may be different but don't think for a moment there aren't hungry children in your neighbourhood. 

Do you believe every child is in some way your child?
How do you think we could use gardening to help? 

6 comments:

  1. I believe these numbers are probably very accurate. The amount of children that were on our assisted lunch program at school was over 25% and that number is higher at the high school where my sister teaches. I recently found an article about this very subject. If I remember correctly there was a group that was planting to feed the children. I will go to see if I can find it. Thank you for bringing this subject to light. Hope you are well!

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    1. Send me the info if you find it. It always makes me despondent to read about child poverty in wealthy countries. Grass roots action helps but we really need to influence policy.

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  2. I work at a food bank/community service and I see hunger all the time. I also see so much kindness from those who care and plant their gardens leaving a section for food to donate to others who are not as fortunate. This summer our refrigerators and pantries were full to capacity from all the donations that were made.

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    1. You are doing great work. I have resolved to "grow a row" for the food bank next year.

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  3. I believe the numbers, too. On Wednesdays, a local church here gives away food to anyone that wants it. It is incredible the number of people that come and need food. We think about these things at Thanksgiving and Christmas, but people are hungry the rest of the year, too. I love the idea of planting a row for the food bank.

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  4. I'm so glad you visited Rob's wonderful blog. :o) It's truly embarrassing how many people live in urban food deserts with no connection to where their food comes from. I agree that gardening is a defiant act. If I were to rip up my lawn and plant a vegetable garden, my neighborhood HOA would go nuts. A guy in DC planted flowers at all the metro stops and the metro authority tore them all out. Such a waste. :( I'm growing carrots this fall with plans to donate some to our local food bank.

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