The positive effect of digging in the soil is also supported by scientific research. research shows that contact with soil is good for children's health. By playing outside and digging in the soil, they come into contact with microbes that help build up their immune systems. Some scientists also suspect that soil microbes, such as Mycobacterium vaccae, play a role in the production of serotonin and may thereby contribute to a better mood.
School gardens make contact with the soil a natural part of life
School gardens play a key role in introducing children to the soil at an early age, says Marieke Dekker of the School Garden Alliance. ‘Through gardening at school, contact with the soil becomes a natural part of life. Children discover how vegetables grow and where food comes from. They see with their own eyes that healthy food starts with living, healthy soil. This helps them make better food choices later in life.’
Three-quarters of the Dutch population consider it important that every child has access to a school garden.
National Digging Challenge
During School Garden Week, nearly 22,000 children throughout the country will take part in activities in which they get to work in the soil themselves. As part of the National Digging Challenge, schools are organising soil safaris, among other activities, to discover soil-dwelling creatures. At some schools, a cotton pair of underpants is buried – sometimes even the mayor’s – to demonstrate how soil life breaks down material and transforms it into fertile soil. In Helmond, the week will be launched by Miss World Netherlands Lotte Boonstra, who will give a digging-in-the-soil lesson to primary school pupils.
The Golden Carrot will also be awarded during School Garden Week. It is presented to a municipality that actively supports gardening at schools.
Read the full article here on LinkedIn.