food for thought
Encouraging Children ’ s Role in the Miracle of Growing Food
Story and Photos by Alejandro López
On an errand to the local grocery store , I witnessed an interaction between a little boy no more than three years old and the groceries that his mother was about to purchase . It was an interaction I had not seen before , or at least not with such exquisiteness , thoroughness , and precision . It caused me to pause and reflect on the active and meaningful participation of children , not only in the food chain , but in our society at large as well .
Calmly sitting in a grocery cart next to the checkout counter , the child , all on his own , reached for the cans and jars that encircled him , carefully picking up each one and placing it on the counter without the least bit of prodding . When he was finished , a look of satisfaction spread across his endearing face and that of his proud mom with whom he had not exchanged a single word during the process . It led me to think that this was not the first time he had performed this service for his family , or else she certainly would have shown surprise and showered him with praise . Instead , it seemed that his role as a useful and committed three-yearold was already an integral part of his identity and the way in which he knowingly moved through the world . I was most impressed by this tiny tot of noble mien !
If he had experienced such purpose and sense of belonging from this simple act , I tried to imagine the energy and glee that he might enjoy picking cucumbers out in a field with an older brother or sister , or perhaps carrying a couple of bulbous onions , earth still clinging to their roots , from the garden to a table where grown
plenty I autumn harvest 2023 39