Healthy Living

Healthy living in Mockingbird's backyard
Green Plate Special

By: Violet Banks

For those of you that have passed by Mockingbird's HQ at the 2100 Building in Seattle, you may have seen the backyard get torn up and remodeled to what looks like a garden. This brings up the question of "what's going on over there?" Focused on low income middle school youth, professional chef, Lara Dewell ,has created a garden for youth to get their hands dirty as well as create something with their hard work and determination that is not only nutritious but is an educational. Green Plate Special is one of the only non-institutional organizations that provide cooking and gardening in the same program.

Laura Dewell has had 30 years of food focused jobs and decided about six years ago to start a non-profit organization. While working with her children, she realized there weren't many healthy eating habits being taught in the everyday functions her children were a part of. She decided that her focus would be for the youth between 5th and 8th grade that need or want the tools to decide to eat healthy. In addition, they will have the intellectual advantage of knowing what they are putting in their bodies.

Originally, Green Plate Special (GPS) was in the Central District of Seattle. Now, 4 years later, GPS is stationed in the backyard of the 2100 building. Connecting with Thistledown and The Laura Foundation, there is now space and a new classroom for the youth to cook indoors which will happen in the house settled beside the garden. Although the space is rented, there are still a lot of items and preparation that needs to get set up before there is any start of classes.

Currently, GPS is an after school program working with Madrona K-8 and Seattle Nativity schools. These youth have learned and will learn how to make veggie wraps, pizza, yogurt dipping sauce, flat bread, kale salad, soups, egg dishes and more! All the while, planting their own vegetables and tapping in to their 'green thumb' which positively helps the air we breathe and the soil we live on.

In the upcoming months, Laura hopes there will a camp featured in this delectable program. Giving youth the open air and space to grow mentally and physically, this camp will inspire the long lasting positive life decisions for their lives. We, at The Mockingbird Society, welcome our new neighbors and wish for the best in their upcoming ventures!

If you would like to know more about Green Plate Special, they have their own website- www.greenplatespecial.org. The website shares past memories of youth during their afterschool visits, upcoming events out in the community dealing with healthy living and eating. There are also thank you blogs to all the generous donors and volunteer blogs for those in the community that would like to support the idea and actions of healthy living.