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NOFA-NJ Pilot Programs in LawrenceTownship

The need for youth education about food production and healthy eating habits has become increasingly evident, with a rise in concern about food safety and the marked increase in childhood obesity, as well the growing disconnect between youth and their food.

While it is NOFA-NJ’s goal, as a statewide organization, to promote healthy food systems throughout NJ, we believe that our pilot youth food education programs in Lawrence Township, with its diverse population of 30,000 people living between Trenton and Princeton, have great potential to serve as a model for New Jersey schools and communities.

Lawrenceville Elementary School Garden

Over the past 3 years, with the assistance of LES teachers, parents, community members and local companies, NOFA-NJ’s Mikey Azzara has established an educational vegetable, fruit, flower, and herb garden on the grounds of the school. The goal of the program is to utilize the garden to teach about the value of fresh food and nutrition and develop an appreciation for nature while making connections to the pre-existing grade-level curriculum. With funding from the Lawrence Township Education Foundation, Mr. Azzara has led four in-service trainings to help teachers realize the potential benefits of their school garden and to further integrate it into daily lessons, and he continues to teach twice-weekly garden classes and to serve fresh food from the garden in the cafeteria on Fridays.

“Garden to Table” at the Lawrence Neighborhood Service Center (LNSC)

Funded by the Princeton Area Community Foundation, as well as the Lawrence Township Community Foundation, NOFA-NJ has implemented Garden to Table at the LNSC as a summer camp and after school programthat includes a “grow your own” community vegetable garden and complementary youth education program on its premises. The project, which involves youth in all phases of the garden, is designed to encourage healthy attitudes and behaviors about fresh food, provide hands-on experience growing food in a garden, and introduce children to cooking skills necessary to prepare fresh, healthy food at home.

Lawrence High School FOOD CLUB & Home Economics

NOFA-NJ works with LHS to provide an after school food education program for interested LHS students, faculty, and staff. We believe that connecting youth to local agriculture, informing students about food production, and introducing youth to cooking fresh food will translate into healthier eating habits. This program is implemented through weekly, after school meetings that include hands-on tours of both local farms and food businesses, hands-on cooking demonstrations with Mike Azzara (and local chefs), and discussion of suggested readings, recipes, and films. Students have been growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs in the school courtyard and Mr. Azzara is helping Home Economics teachers, through a recent grant from the Lawrence Township Education Foundation, to integrate seasonal farm tours and cooking demonstrations.