A new edible education experience is under development in College Park, Orlando. Florida Hospital for Children, through Healthy 100 Kids, has committed funds for a Kitchen House and Garden at Orlando Junior Academy (OJA).
The project is a unique initiative with its combination of education presented by chefs and gardeners alongside healthcare professionals. Announced last night at Florida Hospital’s Gourmet Soiree, momentum is well underway and is attracting other community partners towards an October 2014 ground-breaking.
Two such partners are HuntonBrady and Midtown Architecture Studio who are collaborating to design the estimated $700K project while TLC Engineering and Davis & Associates have agreed to donate their services, as well. The environmentally and financially sustainable 3,000 sq. ft. Center will include kitchen classroom space for OJA’s Nutritional Science Lab and include a large veranda open to the garden. Four cooking stations will set the stage for chef-instructors Kevin Fonzo, Owner/Chef of K Restaurant in College Park, and Sarah Cahill, Raw Food Chef, who will provide “the wow factor” by applying scientific concepts through preparing local fresh food. Much has been reported regarding Fonzo’s passion for this type of community service, and he makes a strong case for why dedicated kitchen space is needed.
“It’s important for today’s kids to be reconnected to their food source in order to be inspired to eat healthy,” says Fonzo.
OJA’s Edible Education Experience (EEE), as seen on Emeril’s Florida Cooking Channel, strives to integrate cooking and gardening into school curriculum and beyond. The EEE committee will continue to provide a faith-based garden-to-table experience to OJA students, and further will be able to share its experience with community students through after school cooking and garden clubs.
Teachers, school administrators and community leaders interested in extending their classroom to the garden and/or kitchen may register to attend this summer’s Edible Schoolyard Teacher Academy, June 11 & 12, by emailing [email protected]. To learn more visit OJA’s garden blog:thegardenatoja.wordpress.com.
