Heather Borochaner
Staff Writer
Representatives from the Delaware college, the Doylestown Food Co-op, and the Rolling Harvest Food Recovery spoke with New Hope-Solebury eighth grade students seeking some extra credit on the evening of Oct. 17, displaying the documentary Ingredients from a projector onto the outside of the New Hope-Solebury Middle School building. They provided information about American farmers, their struggles, and the benefits of eating fresh, raw foods without any chemical “bonuses.” The event was hosted by middle school English teacher Mrs. Jaeger with appearances by Mrs. O’Donnell and Mrs. Hamill. Students and parents laid out blankets or chairs for the occasion, and some just sat in the grass. After the movie, a small panel was held where the guests from their organizations answered any questions students, teachers, or parents had. Fresh fruits were offered as snacks, along with some great apple cider for drinking.
One of the main points Ingredients made was the benefits of eating locally. This would ensure that the food you’re eating isn’t months old by the time it reaches your mouth. One middle schooler asked the question, “if everyone ate locally, would there be enough for everyone in the area?” The answer was no, only because so much land is used for housing and shops that there simply isn’t enough land to use for farming. However, a solution to this would be using lawns as gardens to provide fresh food.
Although the night was chilly and blankets and sweaters were definitely needed to sit through the movie and interview, not to mention the lone bat that spent a good fifteen minutes terrorizing unsuspecting middle schoolers, it was an enjoyable and knowledgeable experience about healthy foods and how to access them. The documentary Ingredients is a highly recommended watch for anyone interested in health and nutrition.
