Muhammad Ali Center Peace Gardens - a Model for Multicultural Gardens

photo courtesy of business wire

The Muhammad Ali Center of Lexington, Ky and Yum! Brands Foundation launched the global Muhammad Ali Center Peace Gardens project on September 21, 2010.  This coincided with the United Nations International Day of Peace.

Peace gardens focus on using edible plants from different cultures to teach youth about the world through culinary delights. They also teach children how to "nurture and care for other living things" and remind them about the importance of fruits and vegetables  in their diets.  

Yum! Brands Foundation is underwriting this initiative as an extension of its World Hunger Relief effort. They are providing educational tools and materials including a free, downloadable teacher curriculum guide translated into six languages, plus $100,000 in grants to build multicultural gardens in underprivileged schools around the world over the next four years. They will provide 50 youth programs with the basic tools and supplies needed to begin a vegetable garden.

Through the process of growing food students learn about nature's processes and increase their access to fresh fruits and vegetables. What better way to create awareness about hunger than to have them actively involved in growing a garden, taking food home to their families, and giving to the community?

The model for this  idea came from the John F. Kennedy Montessori school.  Children participated in all aspects of the garden including planting, nurturing, harvesting, cooking and donating food to the hungry. The model garden consisted of different vegetable beds representing the different countries and the diverse cultures of the school.

 

• Squash and beans were grown in the United States/Native American garden and were used to make “3 Sisters Harvest Soup”.
• Tomatoes, peppers and onions were grown in a Salsa Garden representing Mexico.
• Sweet potatoes and black beans were grown in the Cuban garden bed
• Edamame was grown in the Asian bed
• Potatoes and cucumbers represented Russia.

“The ‘Muhammad Ali Center Peace Gardens’ program will sow the seeds of cultural respect by teaching children how to build gardens with plants from different countries,” said Greg Roberts, President of the Muhammad Ali Center.

To be eligible for the 2011 Muhammad Ali Center Peace Garden, a school or organization (in any country) must plan to garden in 2011 with at least 15 children between the ages of 3 and 18.

Schools within the United States must have a student body eligible for 50% or more reduced or free lunches.

The selection of winners is based on the demonstrated relationship between the garden program and peace studies, and nutrition and hunger issues.

The grant application is available in six different languages with a deadline of January 5, 2011. Go to My Peace Garden (Click here) for more details.