Seed to Plate grows elementary school garden

Radhika Kakani.JPGRadhika Kakani, left, founder of Indigo Markets and Seed to Plate, and her cousin Swapna Kakani, a public health student at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, inspect herbs growing in a prototype mobile ethnic garden that they will use with students at Morris Elementary School in a monthly program integrating science, math, manners, nutrition, cooking and diversity. Seed to Plate, which begins this fall, invites volunteers to help teach groups of five students about gardening and nutrition. (The Huntsville Times/Kay Campbell)

-- Seed to Plate, an interactive gardening project with third graders at Morris Elementary School, has openings for a few more volunteers to help with three hands-on lesson days this fall.

Seed to Plate was founded by Radhika Kakani, a Cordon Bleu-trained chef and former computer scientist who runs Indigo Market. Kakani became passionate about linking nutrition and education because of the experiences of her cousin, Swapna Kakani.

Swapna, a senior psychology and public health student at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, was born with an intestinal defect that means she is dependent on IV nutrition. It also means that every bite she eats has to count, Said Radhika, who has developed nutritionally dense soups for her to eat.

Swapna helped with the development of the lesson plans for Seed to Plate that integrate math, science, gardening, cooking and nutrition into a curriculum that also, with its literal tastes of other cultures, helps children appreciate diversity.

"It's all part of developing a delicious life," Radhika Kakani has told volunteers who have joined Seed to Plate from First Methodist Church in Huntsville, where she is a member, pointing out how the family supper table can become a central headquarters for helping children learn essential life skills.

Master Gardener June Wilson is also helping with the project, which uses tabletop gardens to teach children the basics of growing at least some of their own food.

The one-hour training for volunteers, who will be asked to help teach for one day each in September, October and November, are either Sept. 9 at 11 a.m. or Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. Early sign-ups are urged to facilitate the required background check for all school volunteers.

First Methodist Church, which is supporting the program as part of the church’s Children First partnership with Morris Elementary, will coordinate the background checks.

Information: Info@IndigoMarkets.com.

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