Organic daycare centres
Garderies bio is a project that facilitates the supply of organic and local food to Quebec daycare centres (Centres de la petite enfance, CPEs) and that sensitizes the attending children and adults around them about the diverse facets of farming and its relation to our health and the environment.
In November 2002, Équiterre launched Garderies bio by linking four farms of Quebec’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) network with five CPEs. In summer 2003, more than 400 children already enjoyed meals with organic vegetables and fruit cultivated by their family farmers. The supply was secured throughout the Quebec harvest season, being about 16 weeks between the month of July and November.
In spring 2004, Équiterre published a guide explaining how to become a “Garderie bio” based on experiences made by the farms and CPEs. The guide was distributed to the 900 CPEs throughout Quebec, encouraging them to join the program.
A project in full force!
In summer 2004, 20 CPEs and home childcare services from 9 Quebec regions were linked up with farms of the Quebec CSA network. The formula continues to catch on and in 2005, 37 CPEs and home childcare services were associated with a local organic farm in 8 regions of Quebec. In all, some 2,000 children will find organic food on their plates this summer!
Why Garderies bio?
The health of children and their relationship to food, farming, and farmers are the essential concerns of this project. Organic agriculture prohibits the use of chemical products such as pesticides, chemicals to which children are particularly vulnerable. Young children and infants are more susceptible to developing symptoms of toxicity to pesticides than adults due to their faster metabolism and greater surface-area-to-weight ratio that enhances absorption. Children are also more susceptible to developing neurological and behavioural problems, hormonal perturbations, or cancers not found in adults if exposed to these toxins during critical periods such as gestation and certain growth phases.
The educational component
Through educational activities, Garderies bio can also guide young and old to take an interest in the process of food production which connects us to the earth and those who work the land. With visits to their farms, the children establish a contact with their CPE farmers and make links between farm work and the food that they find on their plates. A pedagogical kit entitled “Ça grouille dans mon jardin écologique” (The creepies and crawlies of my eco garden) also allows them to familiarize themselves with “the friends of the garden.” In 2003, parents and staff of the CPEs of the pilot project participated in workshops on the links between food and children’s health (in particular the effect of pesticides and the benefits of eating fresh and local food) and on affordable ways of including more organic food at home. For that purpose, flyers entitled “Mon épicerie biologique... et accessible. Manger bio à coût raisonnable: en trois étapes” (Three steps to organic and accessible shopping) are available online at equiterre.org/agriculture/cuisinezBio/ (French only). An educational kit was also developed and is freely available for consultation.
The tools of the Garderies bio project
Since the project was launched, many CPEs and parents have contacted Équiterre to find out how to join the project. With the goal to support CPEs wishing to “go organic,” Équiterre met with five regional CPE groups in fall 2004 to present the project and to distribute copies of the guide "Pourquoi et comment devenir une garderie bio ?" and the pedagogical kit. Copies of the kit are presently available for loan by CPEs from Montréal, Montérégie, Lanaudière, Laurentides, Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec, and Québec-Chaudières-Appalaches.
To find out more about children's health and pesticides:
An e-bulletin on the project and similar initiatives elsewhere in the world is disseminated periodically. If you are interested in receiving the newsletter, write to nbachand@equiterre.qc.ca.
To find out more about children's health and pesticides:
Food from organic and local agriculture—for our children’s health equiterre.org/agriculture/informer2a.php