HEADS UP: Sign Up For Growing Chefs’ Local Food Challenge (Starts Tomorrow!)

by Claudia Chan | No plans for Sunday? Good, because Growing Chefs! is throwing down a Local Food Challenge that begins tomorrow (August 19th) and they could use your support to fundraise for their awesome schoolyard programs. Since 2006, the program has brought volunteer chefs into elementary school classrooms (grades one to three) all over the city to teach kids about nutrition, urban agriculture and sustainability.

I had the opportunity to be a facilitator with Growing Chefs! in a second grade French Immersion classroom this past Spring and it was really rewarding to hang out with the kids. They’re so excited about gardening – they love getting their hands in the soil and harvesting salad greens. Never have I seen a flock of seven year olds so stoked about eating vegetables! We visited the class every two weeks and worked on the indoor planters and outdoor plots, led fun activities and made delicious, healthy meals with them.

To continue all this good work, Growing Chefs! is challenging you to eat locally for seven whole days as a part of their campaign. What you have to do is firstly define what local means to you (the 100 mile diet is recommended). Then, set a fundraising goal of what you would like to achieve. There’s a little bit of leeway, you can allow yourself 2-3 wild cards a day (these include coffee, tea, oil, lemons etc.). If you aren’t into the fundraising but want to eat local, of course you can still participate. Alternatively, if you don’t think you can rise to the challenge, you can always donate to one of the participants of your choice by clicking on their profile.

To get the full scope on the Local Food Challenge, click here. For more on Growing Chefs!, click here.

——————————————————————————————————

Claudia Chan is an advocate of all things green. Born and raised in Vancouver, she is inspired by the work of local urban farmers, eco artists and policy makers who make this city the most lush and livable to work and play in. Her mission with Scout and her “Greenlight” column is to impart her enthusiasm for bike lanes, community gardens, farmers’ markets and more to her fellow Vancouverites.