Grow Your Lunch was founded by educator, farmer and entrepreneur, Benjamin Eichorn, who grew up on Country Flat Farm, an organic and biodynamic farm, in Big Sur, CA.
As an undergraduate, Benjamin studied urban agriculture in Havana Cuba and observed diverse models of urban food production. The most impressive models he witnessed were garden plots adjacent to schools, hospitals and government offices where members of these various communities participate in growing, preparing and eating the food they grow.
As a kid, Ben wasn’t exactly fond of farming and gardening. After a college education, travels throughout Latin America, and four years working at one of the nations most preeminent garden education projects (see: the Edible Schoolyard), Ben founded Grow Your Lunch in 2010 with the intention of raising awareness about food and the environment through the development of educational and productive edible gardens.
Here’s What People Say About Grow Your Lunch:
”I am told that the boys have been tasting the raw Kale and Swiss Chard when harvesting food from the rooftop garden at our school. When they come down and see that I am serving these items on the lunch line they are more than likely to try them – and since Grow Your Lunch has been here I have been known to run out of Kale and chard on occasion. Our consumption of vegetables has gone way up since the boys have been involved with the planting, cultivating and harvesting.”
- Ric Keeley, Food Service Director, Acre Gourmet, The Town School for Boys, San Francisco, CA
“Ben is one of the very best facilitators I’ve ever worked with. He is able to focus a very diverse group, help organize them and impart valuable information, all with a gentle sense of humor and understanding. His knowledge of “what it takes” to do a project is considerable, and yet he is open to new learning! Ben is also an excellent teacher. Our students loved working with him. We could not have gotten our garden project underway without his help.”
-Ellen Evans, Principal, The Meher Schools, Lafayette, CA
“Working with Ben Eichorn has been a pleasure. He is resourceful and dependable and he brings garden dreams to life”
- Rae Viscovi, Director of Curriculum, The Town School for Boys, San Francisco, CA
“Ben was able to wear so many hats for Marin Horizon School as we successfully built a garden program from scratch. He was a consultant, educator, and gardener and always managed to make big ideas seem manageable and doable. He trained teachers, students and parents during workshops and weekend gardening days and gave the teachers the tools they needed to run the program without his presence.“
- Charlie Denby, Physical Education, The Marin Horizon School, Mill Valley, CA
“Ben has brought his enthusiasm, expertise and knowledge to the Lincoln High school garden. The kids respond to Ben’s patient teaching style, flexibility and passion. They beg for the opportunity to work in the garden. Ben is able to seamlessly weave in his content knowledge of science and farming into classes of various grade levels, skill levels and content areas. This year he has worked with over 400 students and produced an abundant harvest that has been shared with kids, teacher and families. Our garden is thriving thanks to Ben.”
-Valerie Ziegler, Lincoln High School San Francisco, 2010 California Teacher of the Year