Kaitlyn's Reflection

Throughout this project for our Social Studies education class at Salem State University, I have learned a lot more then I expected. I have learned about genetically modified foods a lot in the past, but found some new information out that I was not expecting and which made me pretty excited. After attending University of Vermont for one year, I was able to take a few classes, which were focused around the environment, health issue, global environmental/health issues, and learned a lot of information about GMO’s. Throughout this blog and service-learning project, I was able to find a lot more information regarding the political side to these issues. In my endeavors to do something about this issue, I actually became aware of the fact that Vermont is now attempting to pass a bill that would make it necessary all food products to be labeled if they contained GMO’s. Although there is very little widespread legislation in the U.S. mandating companies and genetically modified food products to be labeled, there seems to be an increasing concern. It makes me upset and somewhat angry that the general public seems to have very little interest or knowledge regarding the food we eat. Just because something is in a food store, on a shelf, or been cleared by the FDA, we should not simply trust it at face value. I think making people aware of the need for labeling (at the very least) is very important. Not until people become more educated about these issues are we going to be able to force and coerce our government to change anything. Vermont has made a huge step forward in asking for GMO’s to be labeled, and it gives me hope that perhaps in the near future more states in New England can follow in Vermont’s footsteps. I will be excited to see how, where, and when these issues will begin to pop up in the United States and it seems that things are slowly starting to move forward which is great!

As Kristen said, we have both decided to do a service-learning project at Tendercrop Farms in Newbury, MA. We have had some issues contacting this farm and talking to someone higher up who can give us exact details about what they would like us to do. Tendercrop Farms is open year round and it is getting especially busy around this time of year as they prepare for spring. It will be exciting to get a first hand glimpse of how a farm runs and help a local farm in our own community.

Service-Learning information:

Tendercrop Farms

108 State Highway, Newbury, MA

01950

(978) 462-6972

If I were to do a service-learning project based around this topic with elementary students, I think it would be a great tie-in to do something very similar to what Kristen and I are doing. I think that teaching students about genetically modified food products might be hard because you do not want to make it too complicated and get too much into the science. If a teacher wanted to teach this subject, I think keeping it as basic and simple as possible is what would be most effective (in grades lower than fourth grade). It would be easy to tie this into a science/plant lesson, a food pyramid lesson, or even a current event project that highlights what is going on in the world right now. This is also a great subject to present both sides. There are very reasonable debates for both sides of genetically modified foods. On one hand, they can be bad, and genetically modified foods may lead to things down the road we cannot even yet foresee. However, on the other side, genetically modified foods could legitimately benefit human beings as we see population growth and need to more efficiently feed increasing amounts of people on the earth in the cheapest ways possible. Hence, this would be a great subject to introduce to students and ask them to take sides on.

In terms of actually introducing the students to a service-learning project regarding this issue, visiting a farm could be a great idea on so many levels. A service-learning project of this kind allows students to learn on a much broader level, spanning far beyond the GMO issue. While visiting a farm students will learn about local markets, local foods, conventional/organic foods, preparing meats and vegetables for sale, gardening, growing plants, different types of plants/vegetables/fruits/meats/animals that are found on farms, plant life cycles, seasons, history, and so much more just based off of one service-learning trip or project. On top of this students are performing a community service that benefits both them and their own communities. Perhaps people of an older generation can even become inspired and interested in learning more about this issue by even seeing these students take an active part in their own community.

Kristen's Reflection

I have learned so much during this blog that I never thought I would. I honestly expected to just post every once in a while on this topic and not think much of it. Now, I notice myself paying special attention to clips on the news, or articles that pop up on my homepage about related topics to organic food. I was even watching the news this morning and there was a preview about labeling changes on meat products in supermarkets. I normally would have heard it and not thought much of it, but I sat through the commerical and waited to hear what was happening because this blog has made me more aware. By the way, the change was that meat is now labeled with nutritional facts, such as calories, sodium, fats etc. It is just the basic chart that is included on all other foods we eat... interesting that it was not included on meat before this. I never knew that.

My stand on the issue is that all foods need to be labeled with what exactly is included in them. They should be labeled with the process that went into creating them as well. We deserve to know what we are putting into our bodies and feeding our children. I think it is odd that companies are so against labeling their products, even though they say there is nothing wrong with their production stategies. If nothing is wrong with it why not just label the products?

I think this could tie into elementary curriculum beautifully. Organic food could be introduced when doing a unit on health in general, how to eat healthy, how to exercise etc. I remember seeing a presentation in elementary school on how to eat healthy and I ended up getting very into it. I even remember making my mom by Total cereal because we learned how it was a healthy breakfast. I think some students would definitely respond to learning about this.
I could see a specific unit where students are asked to go home and explore the foods in their own homes. They could see what types of foods they have at home, whether they are labeled correctly, how much their family spends per week on food etc. They could also keep a food and exercise log and eventually try to improve their diet in any way they think they should. There would be lessons and research involved in educating students about the difference between organic food and GMO's, as well as what labeling these foods means. After learning about this students could have a debate about their stand on the issue. Finally, students could do a service learning project at a local farm that produces organic food if they agree with promoting organic food. This photo shows young studends from an inner city school who took a field trip to a farm and helped out for the day. I think this is a great idea for students no matter where they live.


For my service learning project I am working toward doing service at Tendercrop Farm in Newbury. They are a farm dedicated to providing organic, fresh produce, meat and poultry and baked goods.
Here is the link to Tendercrop Farm... check it out for information on the farm including what products are currently in season! http://www.tendercropfarms.com/