Conference To Address Gardening Policy
The conference will focus on five areas: health, education, food, beauty and the environment. “Gardening is such a powerful tool because it offers people so many benefits,” said Neil Hamilton, director of Drake University’s Agriculture Law Center. “Everyone is equal when gardening. It provides people with a common way of communication and can be an entry point to many different civic discussions.”
During the conference, organizers plan to create a set of Principles for Garden Policy they hope will help enlighten people to see gardening as a means to create a better lifestyle for themselves and their communities.
One of the major issues to be discussed at the conference is increasing plant-based education in America’s schools. Hamilton said this “could have a profound effect on the health of the nation. By learning about plants and food production, students will achieve a greater understanding of the nutritional value of fresh produce,” Hamilton remarked.
“Gardening also gives kids a sense of pride in their accomplishments and provides them with a way to improve and give back to the community,” Hamilton said.
Some of the other topics to be addressed during the two-day summit include The Future of Gardening in American Society; Gardening’s Contribution to America’s Wellness; Urban Gardens; and School Gardens and Educating Children.