Big Green (non-profit company)

Big Green is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 by Kimbal Musk and Hugo Matheson. They operated The Kitchen restaurant group believing that every child should have the opportunity to play, learn and grow in healthy communities.[1]

Big Green
Established22 February 2011 Edit this on Wikidata (12 years ago)
Typesnonprofit organization Edit this on Wikidata
Legal status501(c)(3) organization Edit this on Wikidata
HeadquartersBroomfield Edit this on Wikidata
CountryUnited States Edit this on Wikidata
Websitebiggreen.org Edit this on Wikidata

The learning gardens consist of a playground and many outdoor classrooms where children learn the basics of farming.[2][3] It aims to enhance mindfulness about health and improve communities through the creation of practical, garden-based education opportunities.[4]

History

Big Green was established in 2011 by Kimbal Musk and Hugo Matheson. Its core idea is that school gardens helps boost school children’s fondness for healthy foods. These gardens were conceptualized to assist children in building up better responses to pressures and anxieties and improve learners' academic performance.[5] Its founders intend Big Green to be replicated in other schools and generate a range of school-related solutions. The first learning garden was constructed in Denver, Colorado at Schmitt Elementary.

Learning gardens

A “learning garden” is an outdoor classroom that also serves as a productive garden of edible plants. It is composed of modular, raised beds with seating and shade, providing space for teaching and learning. The gardens are designed to become vehicles for comprehensive mindset change regarding child nourishment, socialization and student achievement.[6][7] They are also designed to go well with any type of school structure, whether urban or rural.[8]

The food harvested from the learning gardens are sold to restaurants. The activity aims to teach students to become young entrepreneurs and acquire business abilities.

Controversy

Big Green has been accused of illegally discriminating against and firing employees who were unionizing.[9] This, in turn, has generated controversy from the working class.

References
  1. Chandler, Jennifer. "Plant A Seed Day: Celebrate spring and take a step toward a healthier future". Commercialappeal.com. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  2. Severson, Kim (16 October 2017). "Kimbal Musk Wants to Feed America, Silicon Valley-Style". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  3. Leanna Garfield, “Kimbal Musk — Elon’s brother — is leading a $25 million mission to fix food in schools across the US,” 17 January 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018 from https://www.businessinsider.com/kimbal-musks-food-nonprofit-goes-national-learning-gardens-schools-2018-1
  4. Tom Oder, "Kimbal Musk's garden dream is growing," 24 January 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018 from https://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/stories/big-green-kimball-musk-kitchen-community-national
  5. Lewis Lazare, "My breakfast with Kimbal Musk, Elon's brother," 9 November 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2018 from https://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/news/2017/11/09/my-breakfast-with-kimbal-musk-elons-brother.html
  6. "About Learning Gardens – Big Green". biggreen.org. Retrieved 2018-10-06.
  7. America Succeeds. Retrieved 8 October 2018 from http://www.americasucceeds.org/downloads/edventure/kimbal.pdf%5B%5D
  8. Jane Black, “This is how Learning Gardens grow,” 18 September 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2018 from https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/this-is-how-learning-gardens-grow/2012/09/18/94322aca-fcff-11e1-b153-218509a954e1_story.html
  9. Brown, H. Claire. "Kimbal Musk's school gardening nonprofit lays off entire unionizing workforce". The Counter. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
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