【推荐2】“If kids grow kale (甘蓝), kids eat kale. If they grow tomatoes, they eat tomatoes. But when none of this is presented to them, if they’re not shown how food affects the mind and the body, they blindly eat whatever you put in front of them.” — Ron Finley, a guerilla gardener in South Central LA.

For centuries, educators and researchers have argued that garden-based learning improves children’s intelligence and boosts their personal health. In recent years, concerns related to childhood obesity(肥胖) and young people’s disconnection from nature have led to a more heated discussion of the topic. Tens of thousands of American schools have some form of school garden. Many are located on school grounds and others are run by external community partners. Most are connected to the school’s curriculum. For instance, seeds are used in science class to explain plant biology, fruits are used in social studies to teach world geography and the harvest is used in math to explore weights and measures. Some even use the food from the garden to cook the school lunch.

Given the enthusiasm that surrounds garden-based learning today, it’s worth looking into their overall impacts: Do school gardens actually improve the education and health of young people? Yes, definitely!

There is plenty of evidence to suggest that garden-based learning does generate educational, nutritional, ecological and social benefits. For instance, several published studies have shown that garden-based learning can increase students’ science knowledge and healthy food behaviors. Other research has shown that garden-based learning can help students better identify different types of vegetables as well as lead to more favorable opinions on eating vegetables, which helps kids make healthier eating choices. Many supporters go even further, suggesting that garden-based learning can inspire a variety of healthy changes for the whole family. For some low-income families, the fresh vegetables from the school garden can provide the necessary vitamins and fibre, helping lose weight. Others, like Edible Schoolyard founder Alice Waters, hold the view that the experience in the garden can have a great and positive impact on a child’s worldview.

As part of a long-term movement to improve community health, school gardens can provide a platform for experiential education, create valuable green space and develop a sense of responsibility in the minds and bodies of young Americans.

【推荐3】A vivid imagination is more than dreaming up stories about dinosaurs and pirates (海盗). It is the origin of creativity and innovation. Working on your powers of imagination will help you think outside the box — a useful skill at both school and work.     1    

Turn off the TV. Watching television programs is a form of passive participation. It is good for relaxing after a hard day.     2     Instead of watching others on TV, take up a hobby that allows you to create your own story.

    3     Finding your imagination involves shutting stimulation out. Tonight, turn off your phone and television and sit for a while. See what comes to your mind, and come up with alternative (可替代的) ways to spend your time. If you find this difficult, try yoga to help you learn to turn off the world.

Read creative literature and watch creative films. If you normally read detective thrillers, try reading a fantasy novel.     4     Look for experimental or independent films that challenge typical ways of presentation. Try to branch out not only into the content you interact with, but the way the content is presented.

Try visual art forms. You don’t have to intend to sell your works to enjoy the visual arts. Take a pottery (陶艺) or baking class to find out ways you can use your imagination to create physical objects. You can find places in your home to appreciate them, or simply throw them away.     5