The Greening of Ridgefield

By Jan Rifkinson

Ridgefield Press 06/07/12 

It was the last straw for me when the Board of Selectmen couldn't decide whether to say the Pledge of Allegiance before each meeting. While two or three board members voiced their opinions on this request by a town veteran, as a governing body they decided to check surrounding towns to see if anyone else followed this formality. 

This has become a frequent practice at the BoS. They like to hide behind common practice. They've become followers instead of leaders. 

So, it was to my great delight to read that every school in the Ridgefield School system has a garden tended to and harvested by the students.

Moreover, the food was used in their cafeterias. Bravo!

And most satisfying, the Ridgefield School system is the FIRST and ONLY school system in CT to do this. Kudos.

This is an example of leading with creativity, pro activity, responsibility and reality. 

School is not just about grades or SATs although those are certainly important milestones. No college is going to accept a student simply because they worked in a school garden but, I submit, it will make those students better people going forward.

At a young age they will learn that food doesn't come from a supermarket or a refrigerator. A lot of it – especially the most healthy of it – comes from the ground, delivered from seeds, soil, sun and water and nurtured by man with hard work. It's mother nature's gift to us. 

That knowledge -- and extrapolating those lessons going forward – is worth a bunch in the real world.

We need more of this kind of leadership.