Purpose for the Future
-
Incorporate sustainability into the classroom (cross-curricular). Promote a new mindset in students.
-
Inspire consumers to be more considerate and aware.
As Teachers...
-
We can be better informed about the importance of “rescuing” fruit and helping our planet be sustainable and teach our students different issues facing our world based on what we have learned. This can lead to topics such as healthy consumption.
-
This experience could help us start a similar project to Project: Fruit Stars right in our own community. There are apples being wasted all over the province (world) and by “rescuing” them, we can make them available for others who are in need. Or, if there is a project like this in your area, you would be well informed and be able to get your students involved.
-
We could bring this into our classrooms and teach students how to make use of fruits and vegetables we might typically throw away. This would help them be better informed consumers in the future.
-
We can incorporate ideas of sustainability in all subject areas. For example, finding books to read and and then having students respond in a variety of ways. They could come up with many creative ideas to help make their school, and even their community, more sustainable.
Applying our Knowledge
We know that there are many more aspects to sustainability than just the environment but this is something that literally anyone could help make a difference in.
-
If everyone did their part in helping use imperfect fruit and vegetables, there would be a lot less going to waste and needing to be “rescued.”
Why is This Type of Sustainability Important?
Applying Our Knowledge
As Consumers...
-
We can work with all fruits and vegetables -- not just the ones that look perfect on the outside. If consumers bought more fruit or vegetables that were bruised or misshapen, there would be a smaller amount getting thrown out each day.
-
We only buy what we need so that we don’t end up throwing out what we don’t use.
-
Start a compost bin to properly take care of those fruits and vegetables you don’t use, or the parts that you may not eat. This brings them return back to the earth and helps other plants grow.
The Future of Project: Fruit Stars
How can we improve the Fruit Stars project? How does it grow? What can we do?
-
Promote more awareness in the community. This would garner more volunteers, more fruit donations, and more resources to make the project more far reaching.
-
Encourage support in the community. This could create new partnerships, or additional add ons to help make this project more meaningful. For example, Carol is always looking for more volunteers to help out since a great way to build community is to involve people of all ability and need, like those who need to build pre-service or volunteer hours, as well as those who have time and life to share!
-
If you don’t live in the Edmonton area, Carol or the other founders would be able to tell you how to start a project like this in your community.
-
Donate financially. With so much “rescued” fruit, there is always a need for more equipment and supplies.
-
...Your thoughts?
Where do we go from here?
