YMCA Will Use New Gardens as Learning Tools

The Wayne YMCA will use gardens to help children gain a better understanding about food, sustainability, and healthy eating.

Victor Alfieri, a sustainability advocate from Wayne, constructed the gardens this week. He has successfully lobbied for residents to keep chickens in their backyards and gives talks at the library about health and sustainability.

“The biggest goal for us is to use them as a learning tool,” said Liz Youngstein, director of healthy living for the Metro YMCA of the Oranges, the organization that runs the facility. “I think kids need to know where they’re food comes from. They need to get involved and how to eat healthy. We’re hoping they get the kids to try more vegetables.”

Youngstein said she plans on having the kids plant a variety of vegetables in the gardens, including: broccoli, celery, and string beans.

Alfieri hopes kids understand the importance of the gardens and get the kids to think about caring for the planet and themselves.

“The more that the are exposed to something like this, the more they see it, the more likely they’ll be apt to do it one day themselves,” he said.

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