You are what you eat on Orcas Island | Editorial

Published 3:25 pm Monday, July 9, 2012

We’re not one of the healthiest counties for nothing.

While most kids are eating tater tots and breaded chicken, Orcas Island students tend to their very own garden.

And it’s a luxury that many adults have as well, whether they maintain their own backyard bounty or get goods from the Farmers’ Market.

For the past two years, San Juan County was ranked the No. 1 healthiest county in Washington state. It was based on a head-to-head comparison of more than two dozen health-related statistics, including screening for diabetes, adult obesity and years lost to premature death.

We think our abundance of healthy eating options and outdoor lifestyles are a big factor in the county’s overall health. We are so grateful to the farmers, chefs, educators and consumers who make local, sustainable food a priority.

This summer at Orcas school, community members are invited to dig, eat, harvest and have fun at the school garden every Thursday from now until Aug. 23. The schedule is:

• 9 to 11:30 a.m. – Garden tasks

• 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Make lunch in the garden and enjoy some music

• 1 to 2:30 p.m. – Special events (speakers, crafts, surprises)

• 2:30 to 3 p.m. – Group art project

What a treat for kids and adults to kneel side by side, hands entrenched in dark soil, helping nurture a little piece of Orcas Island heaven. And what a treat for all of us that we can walk out our front doors and have access to as many fresh veggies and fruit as we like.