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Teaching Garden Destruction - Let’s Do Something About It!

UPDATE: Guerrero is allowed to keep his garden! Read here for more information: http://www.memphisflyer.com/NewsBlog/archives/2011/09/23/update-adam-guerreros-garden

Yesterday, we here at The Lunch Box learned of an injustice in Memphis, Tennesse. Watch here to learn about why Math teacher Adam Guerrero was asked to remove his front yard’s kitchen garden which he used as a teaching tool for his students:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=urBTx7ma7jU

The city wants the garden removed tomorrow (September 23).

Now is the time to act! Visit http://kitchengardeners.org/blogs/roger-doiron/stand-solidarity-adam-guerrero for more information about the situation along with a list of things you can do to help by tomorrow!

Lunch Box Social Media Coordinator, Sunny Young, wrote this letter to Judge Larry Potter asking him to reconsider.

Hello Judge Potter,

I’m sure you have already received quite a number of emails regarding the lawn of Adam Guerrero, but I would simply like to put my word in as well.

As a recent graduate from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas - I feel comfortable associating myself with the South. The Southern half of the US is rich with friendly people, beautiful countryside - never too far from the big cities, and of course, delicious food and a rich culinary culture.

I find myself standing up for the South on a regular basis now that I have relocated to Colorado and I am ashamed to hear that something as wonderful as a teaching garden for students, whether in the front yard, back yard, or school yard, has been asked to be destroyed.

I realize that there are two sides to every story and I understand your prerogative to maintain a beautiful city - but beauty is in the eye of the beholder and witnessing children (who are growing up in the state #6 in childhood obesity rates http://healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity2010/) learn about and appreciate the process of growing wholesome vegetables - is about as beautiful as it gets. Certainly more “pretty” than if browning grass covered the yard.

I encourage you to think about what you want for this country. Would you like to see our obesity crisis amplify and result in high health care costs for unhappy and unhealthy people? Or do you agree that every little effort counts in the fight against childhood obesity, whether it be healthier school lunches, more education for parents on the adverse effects of unhealthy diets, or simply gardens - ways of educating our youth to connect with their food and have a stake in their OWN future.

Thanks so much for your time. I appreciate you reading this letter and am happy to continue the conversation if you so choose.

Let us know if you act up and what you think of this situation.

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