Podcasts about green bronx machine

Healthcare leaders face mounting challenges: rising costs, staff burnout, and pressure to improve patient outcomes. Traditional solutions often fall short. However, groundbreaking WHO research reveals a powerful, evidence-based approach through arts integration. When strategically implemented, arts programs reduce hospital stays by up to one day, decrease medication needs, and improve staff retention. NYC Health + Hospitals' 7,000-piece collection and global initiatives like the HoME study demonstrate how arts integration delivers measurable ROI while transforming care environments. Discover how arts in medicine programs are transforming healthcare through evidence-based interventions. Joe Desiderio explores the groundbreaking WHO-backed research, strategic partnerships, and measurable clinical outcomes of integrating arts programs - from personalized music therapy to large-scale murals - in healthcare settings.Implement evidence-based arts programs to reduce hospital stays and medication usage, directly impacting your bottom lineDeploy targeted arts initiatives that measurably reduce burnout and increase workplace satisfactionCreate healing environments that improve clinical outcomes through strategic art placement and programmingBuild stronger community connections through participatory arts programs and local artist partnershipsLeverage WHO-backed research and global studies to build compelling business cases for arts investmentJoseph Desiderio, Chief Connector, connectXrMegan Antonelli, Chief Executive Officer, HealthIMPACT

"The secret to success is the art and science of growing vegetables online to high-performing academic standards. So we are transforming both the lens of public education and personal eating outcomes." —Stephen Ritz   Imagine a classroom where students don't just read about science but experience it firsthand by growing their own food. This isn't some futuristic fantasy— it's the reality created by the Green Bronx Machine, a pioneering program that is transforming public education one school at a time. Stephen Ritz is the visionary behind this game-changing initiative. As an educator, social entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for community empowerment, he has dedicated his life to unlocking the potential of underserved students through the power of hands-on, food-based learning.  Listen in as we revisit this classic episode and discover how Stephen's innovative approach is yielding remarkable results, from improved academic performance to greater environmental stewardship and a renewed sense of purpose.     Connect with Stephen: Stephen Ritz is a South Bronx educator who believes that students should not have to leave their community to live, learn, and earn in a better one. An internationally acclaimed award-winning educator, Stephen is the author of the best-selling book, The Power Of A Plant, and founder of Green Bronx Machine. Known as “America's Favorite Teacher,” Stephen is responsible for creating the first edible classroom in the world, which he has evolved into the National Health, Wellness, and Learning Center. He and his students have grown more than 100,000 pounds of vegetables in the South Bronx.  He was a Top Ten Finalist for the Global Teacher Prize, named Global Humanitarian, Food Tank Hero, TEDx Prize Winner, and a Global Food Educator, and has presented at the Obama White House three times. Stephen believes that together, via collaboration, and coalition and get to yes solutions, we can all prosper!   Website Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn   Connect with Green Bronx Machine: Website Connect with NextGen Purpose: Website Facebook Instagram  X LinkedIn YouTube Episode Highlights: 02:15 Steve's Documentary   04:52 Steve's Impact on Schools 06:29 Green Bronx Machine Curriculum and Accessibility 09:49 The Impact of Green Bronx Machine Programs 10:07 How to Donate to Green Bronx Machine 12:24 Student Success Despite Economic Challenges  

Stephen Ritz is an Educator, Author, Urban Farmer, and the Founder of Green Bronx Machine. Green Bronx Machine is an impact-driven, for-purpose organisation teaching kids to grow, eat, and love vegetables and improve student nutrition, school engagement, and academic performance. In this episode, Stephen shares his journey from aspiring basketball star to inexperienced teacher in the South Bronx in the 1980s to an advocate for food justice and urban agriculture. He explains how Green Bronx Machine started as an alternative to drugs and crime for his students and how growing food can be used as a pathway to improve school engagement, education, nutrition, food security, and community development.   Resources and links: Green Bronx Machine website Generation Growth website Stephen Ritz's website Stephen Ritz on LinkedIn   Connect: Future Fork podcast website Paul Newnham on Instagram Paul Newnham on X Paul Newnham on LinkedIn Disruptive Consulting Solutions website SDG2 Advocacy Hub website SDG2 Advocacy Hub on X SDG2 Advocacy Hub on Facebook SDG2 Advocacy Hub on LinkedIn   This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

2:19:15 – Frank in New Jersey, plus the Other Side. Topics include: Loossemble day, Phish, mass transit meltdown, new Hearthstone expansion – The Great Dark Beyond! – all cards leaked, Nintendo Alarmo, Phish Merch arrives, the northern lights, K-Pop, LOONA, Green Bronx Machine, Acky Bright, Defending the Caveman, Mets, Manhattan Mall is dead, the cats’ birthday, Balatro […]

2:19:15 – Frank in New Jersey, plus the Other Side. Topics include: Loossemble day, Phish, mass transit meltdown, new Hearthstone expansion – The Great Dark Beyond! – all cards leaked, Nintendo Alarmo, Phish Merch arrives, the northern lights, K-Pop, LOONA, Green Bronx Machine, Acky Bright, Defending the Caveman, Mets, Manhattan Mall is dead, the cats’ birthday, Balatro […]

Did you know that food is the most important “school supply?” Join Food Sleuth Radio host and Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Stephen Ritz, award-winning science teacher and founder of the Green Bronx Machine. Ritz teaches in the poorest school district in the nation but has turned children's lives around with food and love. He explains how food injustice is racial injustice, and that the cheap and convenient foods readily available in his students' neighborhood are in reality, costly and deadly. He views children like seeds – full of potential. Ritz describes how his successful model of science education (growing food in the classroom) began and continues to thrive. Ritz, his students and the power of the Green Bronx Machine are featured in the documentary film, Generation Growth: https://generationgrowthfilm.com/Related Websites: Americans Who Tell The Truth: https://americanswhotellthetruth.org/portraits/stephen-ritz/ https://greenbronxmachine.org/ Generation Growth: https://greenbronxmachine.org/generation-growth/

Today, Clancy speaks with Stephen Ritz, an internationally acclaimed, award-winning educator and author of the best-selling book, The Power of A Plant. He is also the Founder of Green Bronx Machine. You won't want to miss their discussion about the Green Bronx Machine, the power of food, food justice, and food dignity. Enjoy the show!

During a recent event, speakers came together to celebrate food diversity, scientific advances, and community innovation. This week's episode of “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” features two panels from the program moderated by Dani. First, panelists discuss the power and privilege that shape food and agriculture systems, what we can learn from looking back at traditional foodways, and why communities must be engaged in growing their own food. Then, speakers explore the educational approaches that are nurturing the next generation of food systems leaders, the value of bringing culturally relevant ingredients into the classroom, and how programs can connect food, nutrition, and planetary health.  Speakers include Rachel Atcheson, Deputy Director for the New York City Mayor's Office on Food Policy; Sheryll Durrant, Board President of Just Food and the Food and Agriculture Coordinator for the International Rescue Committee; Jessica Harris, an author and journalist, leading expert on foodways of the African Diaspora and Professor Emeritus at Queens College; Tony Hillery, CEO and Founder of Harlem Grown; Michael Kotutwa Johnson, a member of the Hopi Tribe in Northern Arizona, an Indigenous Resilience Specialist at the School of Natural Resources and the Environment and an Associate Faculty at the Indigenous Resilience Center at the University of Arizona; Stephen Ritz, Executive Director of Green Bronx Machine; Karen Washington, a farmer and activist with Rise and Root Farm; and Marion Williams, National Program Director for Wellness in the Schools. This event was held in partnership with the Periodic Table of Food Initiative, Food EDU, The Rockefeller Foundation, the American Heart Association, and the Alliance of Bioversity International - CIAT.  While you're listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.    

In this episode of the ESG Insider podcast we're exploring solutions to sustainability challenges in food systems and agriculture.  Climate change poses risks to global food supply chains and agricultural production. At the same time, the world's growing population means food needs are increasing.  We discuss sustainable agriculture trends with Michelle French, Director of Global Sustainability Programs at global commodities agriculture company ADM. Speaking on the sidelines of the GreenBiz conference in Phoenix in February, Michelle describes the challenges of tracking emissions associated with farming, the benefits of regenerative agriculture, and how ADM is working with farmers.   Also in this episode, we hear from Troy Albright, Founder and CEO of a vertical, climate-controlled aeroponic farm in Phoenix that uses a technology that reduces land and water use while also helping address food insecurity.   And we talk with Stephen Ritz, founder of the nonprofit organization Green Bronx Machine, which teaches students in hundreds of schools around the world how to grow food. Stephen explains how STEM programs can transform youth academically as well as their relationship to food and sustainability.  Listen to our episode on how climate change is impacting the US economy, human health and agriculture: https://www.spglobal.com/esg/podcasts/how-climate-change-is-impacting-us-economy-human-health-and-agriculture   Read more about supply chains in the S&P Global Supply Chain 2024 Look Forward report: https://www.spglobal.com/en/research-insights/featured/special-editorial/look-forward/look-forward-volume-2-2024  Learn about TPM, a conference S&P Global organizes for the trans-Pacific and global container shipping and logistics community: https://events.joc.com/tpm/about/index.html  The GreenBiz conference is hosted by GreenBiz Group and S&P Global Sustainable1 is a sponsor.   This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global.     Copyright ©2024 by S&P Global     DISCLAIMER     By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.

Charlie and Heather riff on the infectious and inspiring presentation from teacher, educator, author, speaker, and urban farmer Stephen Ritz, founder of the Green Bronx Machine, during the World Business Forum in NYC. They delve into Ritz's journey of personal transformation and his mission to empower students through healthy living and education. Ritz's relentless passion and energy captivated the audience, and his work in the South Bronx has expanded to impact schools nationwide. Heather reflects on the profound impact of Ritz's message, prompting her to consider her own contributions to making a difference. The episode highlights the tremendous achievements of the Green Bronx machine in rescuing and delivering thousands of pounds of food, along with the positive outcomes on students' health, education, and family lives. From the Mission of the Green Bronx Machine: "The Green Bronx Machine builds healthy, equitable, and resilient communities through inspired education, local food systems, and 21st Century workforce development." They are dedicated to cultivating minds and harvesting hope, and their school-based model uses urban agriculture aligned to key school performance indicators to grow healthy students and healthy schools and to transform communities that are fragmented and marginalized into neighborhoods that are inclusive and thriving. Resources: Green Bronx Machine - https://greenbronxmachine.org/  Green Bronx Machine 2022 Impact Report - https://greenbronxmachine.org/2022-impact-report/  Stephen Ritz - https://stephenritz.com/  This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iKfIQGDVDAU    We hope you enjoy this episode and subscribe to our podcast for a new story each week. Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com  for more episodes. 

Charlie and Heather riff on the infectious and inspiring presentation from teacher, educator, author, speaker, and urban farmer Stephen Ritz, founder of the Green Bronx Machine, during the World Business Forum in NYC. They delve into Ritz's journey of personal transformation and his mission to empower students through healthy living and education. Ritz's relentless passion and energy captivated the audience, and his work in the South Bronx has expanded to impact schools nationwide. Heather reflects on the profound impact of Ritz's message, prompting her to consider her own contributions to making a difference. The episode highlights the tremendous achievements of the Green Bronx machine in rescuing and delivering thousands of pounds of food, along with the positive outcomes on students' health, education, and family lives. From the Mission of the Green Bronx Machine: "The Green Bronx Machine builds healthy, equitable, and resilient communities through inspired education, local food systems, and 21st Century workforce development." They are dedicated to cultivating minds and harvesting hope, and their school-based model uses urban agriculture aligned to key school performance indicators to grow healthy students and healthy schools and to transform communities that are fragmented and marginalized into neighborhoods that are inclusive and thriving. Resources: Green Bronx Machine - https://greenbronxmachine.org/  Green Bronx Machine 2022 Impact Report - https://greenbronxmachine.org/2022-impact-report/  Stephen Ritz - https://stephenritz.com/  This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iKfIQGDVDAU    We hope you enjoy this episode and subscribe to our podcast for a new story each week. Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com  for more episodes. 

Stephen Ritz is an educator and the founder of Green Bronx Machine, a non-profit that builds healthy, equitable, and resilient communities. Using a school-based model, the Green Bronx Machine is inspiring healthy students and healthy schools through inspired education, local food systems, and 21st Century workforce development. On this episode of Food Lab Talk, Michiel speaks with Stephen about the importance of listening, how passion and authenticity can inspire change, and the power of a supportive community to push you in the right direction. Stephen Ritz: “This work is hard and it requires a lot of courage, to be sure. But the opposite of courage isn't cowardice. The opposite of courage is conformity, because even a dead fish can go with the flow. And I am no dead fish. I'm gonna swim. You're gonna swim. We're gonna keep getting upstream until we spawn. And I find those amazing people and those amazing opportunities that just give me one more hop. That's what it's all about. For far too long, people have gotten fat off the dysfunction of communities like mine. Many people are well intended. But they are thriving while our community is barely surviving. And we need to flip that script and flip that ownership.”0:43 Intro to Stephen 1:33 What a cheese hat has to do with the fight for equity 2:49 How onions inspired the start of Green Bronx Machine 10:01 Green Bronx Machine's mission: equity and access 11:03 Food as the most important school supply 12:31 Fighting for the underdog: the students 14:01 Courage and swimming upstream 14:47 Get started, show up, and be consistent 16:03 Building courage by finding your community 17:25 Inspiring long-term habits through early exposure 19:35 Secret ingredients for win-win partnerships 21:38 Sparking real change through policy and grassroots engagement 23:25 Examples of purpose-driven companies 25:02 Nail it before you scale it 27:48 Creating the next generation of heroes 28:48 Advice: don't settle, don't compromise 30:46 Takeaways for changemakers LinksGreen Bronx MachineNewman's OwnWhole Kids FoundationBe Your Own Hero Campaign Keep in TouchSubscribe, rate, review the show at foodlabtalk.comFollow Food Lab talk on YouTube and LinkedIn*The views expressed by the guests in this podcast don't necessarily represent the host's views, nor those of his employer.

According to Feeding America, more than 9 million children faced hunger in 2021. That's 1 in 8 children.  Children facing hunger are more likely to repeat a grade in elementary school, have social and behavioral problems and experience diminished language and motor skills.   What impact does nutrition have on learning? How can we encourage nutrition among our students and in our schools? And how can we improve access to healthy food for students and families?  In this episode, Stephen Ritz joins Kevin to discuss the link between nutrition and learning.      

Food insecurity and other environmental issues disproportionately impact low-income, disinvested neighborhoods, but urban agriculture has the potential to promote equity, green space, and food access in these areas. The story of the NYC-based urban agriculture initiative "the Green Bronx Machine," will show us how. This episode was written and produced by Sophia Manolis and Lisiane Nemlin with support from Laura Joyce Davis and the Stanford Storytelling Project's course "Stories to Save Our Planet." Complete show notes can be found at www.storytelling.stanford.edu.

"We are the ones we are waiting for. And that from the ground up— in communities that needed most where we are both under-resourced and over-extraction— together, in community, with community, and with dedicated people, we can grow something greater."  —Stephen Ritz   School gardens are popping up all over the country as more and more people are recognizing their value in transforming both the lens of public education and green literacy. These gardens are usually designed and built by educators, parents, or community members with the help of students.    The gardens serve as living laboratories where children can learn about the environment and the importance of eating healthy. They also provide a place for students to relax and connect with nature. Gardens can be found in all types of schools, from urban to rural, and they come in all shapes and sizes. They can be as small as a window box or as large as an acre. No matter their size, all school gardens have the potential to make a big impact on the lives of the students who garden in them.   This is the mission of the Green Bronx Machine Curriculum, an indoor gardening educational program that allows children to eat what they grow! Not only does this help them develop healthy eating habits early on, but it also increases their school engagement and opens up job opportunities. And it's not just a flash in the pan – this program is here to stay as this initiative keeps growing.    This week, Stephen Ritz is back on the show to share exciting news and developments about the Green Bronx Machine. They also talk about how kids can now both enjoy exploring, planting, and learning both physically and digitally. Tune in and learn what we can do to help more kids experience the joy of education and personal eating outcomes. Meet Stephen:  Stephen Ritz is a South Bronx educator who believes that students should not have to leave their community to live, learn, and earn in a better one. An internationally acclaimed award-winning educator, Stephen is the author of the best-selling book, The Power Of A Plant, and founder of Green Bronx Machine Known as “America's Favorite Teacher,” Stephen is responsible for creating the first edible classroom in the world, which he has evolved into the National Health, Wellness and Learning Center. He and his students have grown more than 100,000 pounds of vegetables in the South Bronx.  He was a Top Ten Finalist for the Global Teacher Prize, named Global Humanitarian, Food Tank Hero, TEDx Prize Winner and a Global Food Educator, and has presented at the Obama White House three times. Stephen believes that together, via collaboration, coalition and get to yes solutions, we can all prosper!   Website Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn   Connect with Green Bronx Machine: Website Connect with NextGen Purpose: Website Facebook Instagram  LinkedIn YouTube Episode Highlights: 00:53 Growing From 17 to 270,000 03:33 The Green Bronx Machine Curriculum 07:19 From Box to Garden 10:30 Together, We Can Grow  

116. Stephen Ritz - The Power of a Plant  “The one thing that we have to do is continue to be courageous. And the opposite of courage is not cowardice. The opposite of courage is conformity, because even a dead fish can go with the flow. And here in the South Bronx, we are not dead fish.” - Stephen Ritz “I am not willing to accept the things I cannot change. I am going to change what I cannot accept.” - Stephen Ritz Stephen Ritz Guest Bio: Stephen Ritz is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning educator, author of best-selling book, The Power Of A Plant and Founder of Green Bronx Machine. Known as America's favorite teacher and 2015 Top Ten Finalist for the Global Teacher Prize, Stephen is responsible for creating the first edible classroom in the world. He and his students have grown more than 165,000 pounds of vegetables in the South Bronx, were celebrated at the Obama White House three times, have been featured on the cover of TIME for KIDS, and are the subject of a new, full-feature documentary, Generation Growth. A replica of his classroom was installed in the US Botanic Gardens in Washington, DC and his curriculum is being used in hundreds of schools across the United States, and internationally from Colombia to Dubai, from Canada to Cairo, to Doha, and beyond.  To date, Stephen's work has been featured by Forbes, Fast Company, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, FOX, TNT, Disney, Discovery TV, NPR, Teach Middle East, The Gulf National, and countless others. His TED talk boasts more than 1 million views, ranks in the Top 10 Food/Education TED Talks of all time, and is used for teacher training/workforce development globally. Stephen was featured in the film adaptation of Michael Pollan's best-selling book, In Defense of Food and appeared on ABC's The Chew, The Rockefeller Foundation's Food for Thought, NPR's 50 Great Teachers, All Things Considered, and American Graduate. The State University of New York uses his curriculum to train teachers in all content areas. His recent appearance on PBS' Growing A Greener World (Episode 808) won an Emmy Award, the first ever in the ten-year history of the show.  Stephen serves as a Senior Fellow in Social Innovation at Babson College and as a Board Member for the NYC Nutrition Education Network. Stephen is now appearing in the new PBS educational series Let's Learn with Mister Ritz, was named the 2020 Change-Maker Award by NYC Food Policy Center for his response to COVID, named a 2021 Food Hero by TMZ Live, testified for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ending Hunger in America, and was awarded the 2021 Artemis CEA Disruptor Award for his work, advocacy, and impact in public schools across NYC and America. Stephen was just named to the Food Transition Team for NYC Mayor, Eric Adams. R.O.G. Takeaway Tips: Wherever you go, there you are.  Put your best two feet on the ground and stand up straight.  Seek the sun. Seek the light, and seek to nourish yourself in the best way possible.  In a world where you can be anything to be kind, to be kind to yourself, to each other, to the planet.  Put the phones down. Put the social media down. Find some time to be in love, to be still, to be quiet.  Realize that every drop fills the cup.  Lots of people can do great big things.  It's the small stuff daily that really adds up. Showing up is very powerful. Being consistent in what you do and what you say is very powerful. No one will go broke giving love. So, give love freely and you know, you're always going to get it back.  Stephen Ritz in the Green Bronx Machine Resources: www.stephenritz.com www.greenbronxmachine.org The Power of a Plant by Stephen Ritz Make It Happen by Stephen Ritz Food Tank Article About the Green Bronx Machine Anthem Awards Article about the Green Bronx Machine Whole Kids Foundation: The Green Bronx Machine Green Bronx Machine Foster Care Farm in Appalachia Green Bronx Machine Farm at Yankee Stadium Green Bronx Machine Housing Innovation Article on the Green Bronx Machine Working with Trotwood Elementary Article from Daytona Daily News about the Green Bronx Machine and Trotwood Elementary Network Diversity Index Quiz Video Resources: 2021 Social Innovation Award Short Video Featuring NY State Education and Agriculture Commissioners Green Bronx Machine - We Grow Happy Mini-Documentary with NYC Mayor Adams: The Green Bronx Machine: a Film by Food Inspiration Coming Next: Episode 117, Building Bridges Coaching Tips for Generous Leaders with Shannon Cassidy. Topic: Pura Vida.  Credits: Stephen Ritz, Sheep Jam Productions, Host Shannon Cassidy, Bridge Between, Inc.

Stephen Ritz is a reknown TED Speaker, Author, Educator, founder of Green Bronx Machine, and much more! Wanting to build a culture of learning in an underserved area, he found a way to teach his students through growing plants. Since that time, he and his students have been recognized by the White House, the City of New York, and has spread the love of growing gardens throughout the world. In this episode he shares the story of how it all began and how it has bridged cultural gaps, knocked down stereotypes, and led to healthier communities. It's an inspiring story that may just lead you to plant your own garden! You can learn more about Stephen's organization and how to get involved here: https://greenbronxmachine.org/

Meet Stephen Ritz, a volunteer educator who teaches kids to grow healthy food in their classroom (which is on the fourth floor of a massive apartment building!). Stephen does soooooo much good for his amazing kids; they “eat up” his teaching with enthusiasm and excitement. Beneath Stephen's patina of silliness beats a heart overflowing with deeply caring brilliance, and so of course, the kids love him. Mr. Ritz's teaching benefits the community, the children, and the world. Thank you Stephen Ritz for your amazing Green Bronx Machine! And, thank you, children of the Bronx, we love you! We believe in you! For more info, check out https://greenbronxmachine.org to learn more about this growing project. To get the full playlist of Stories We Love, go to http://www.storiesweloveshow.com To get a link for Karen's books for free: Go to http://www.ChronicPleasureBook.com

S2 | E23 In this episode we are revisited by the one and only Stephen Ritz and the Green Bronx Machine. Stephen is a great friend of the show. He gives us an inside look at what's happening with agriculture in urban school districts and how we can get involved.

The only way we will change the issues facing us today is to recognize "We're the ones we're waiting for." Listen to Todd-versations' friend Stephen Ritz, founder of Green Bronx Machine, discuss what gets him up in the morning. Filled with passion, purpose, and hope, we believe his infectious attitude will inspire you too. Todd has told Stephen on more than one occasion, “I'm glad to be on this planet with you.”  He's a master of the jam, a wordsmith extraordinaire, and a builder of relationships using his two eyes and five fingers to connect with people every day.  His challenge to all of us: be an advocate, help others find their voice. Words to live by: be nimble, be impactful, and work to develop partnerships with the lives we touch.

CITE / St. Rose graduate Stephen Ritz has a dream, and it starts with the power of community. He brings this to life through his Green Bronx Machine, a non-profit he started to bring Urban Farming to a school in the Bronx. In this interview, Stephen recounts his journey, and highlights how his project helped turn around a school. He's a passionate educator, and his organization has taught nationally and internationally. He's created local farm stands across the Bronx. He provides after-school programming, and online cooking classes. He hosts a show on youtube. He's working to deliver fresh food to public housing, and deliver door-to-door food for seniors, as well as grab-and-go bags across the Bronx. He's been visited by Chancellors, Mayors, and First Lady Michelle Obama, among others. Stephen Ritz and his students observed that as waistlines expanded, engagement and opportunities in school decreased, school performance suffered, and hope and ambition became minimized. Originally an after-school, alternative program for high school students, Green Bronx Machine has evolved into K-12+ model fully integrated into core curriculum. Its students grow, eat and love their vegetables en route to spectacular academic performance. Learn more about the Green Bronx Machine at https://greenbronxmachine.org/ and find Stephen's inspiring new book "The Power of a Plant," on his site, where all proceeds will go to the organization. An inspiring story about how incorporating gardening and plants into teaching curriculum moved the graduation rate of students from 17% to 100% and improved attendance to 93% in his South Bronx high school. Stephen is a graduate of our CITE / St. Rose school building leadership program. Learn more at http://www.stroseapply.com and find all of our cite programs at http://www.citeprograms.com 

Green Bronx Machine is an impact driven, for-purpose organization with 501(c)(3) status rooted in the belief that we are all Amer-I-Cans! Green Bronx Machine was born via collaboration between life-long educator Stephen Ritz and his students who observed that as waistlines expanded, engagement and opportunities in school decreased, school performance suffered, and hope and ambition became minimized. Originally an after-school, alternative program for high school students, Green Bronx Machine has evolved into K-12+ model fully integrated into core curriculum. Our students grow, eat and love their vegetables en route to spectacular academic performance.More about Stephen Ritz:Website: https://greenbronxmachine.org/More about Joe Swartz:Website: https://amhydro.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/HydroConsultantMore about Nick Greens: Website: https://www.nickgreens.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/InfoGreensSupport the show

How can we teach and nourish children so that small changes have a significant impact on their transformation as well as helping our planet? And what do growing plants and listening have in common for this transformation to be possible? Stephen Ritz is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning educator, author of best-selling book, The Power Of A Plant and Founder of Green Bronx Machine. Known as America's favorite teacher and 2015 Top Ten Finalist for the Global Teacher Prize, Stephen is responsible for creating the first edible classroom in the world. He and his students have grown more than 130,000 pounds of vegetables in the South Bronx, were celebrated at the Obama White House three times, have been featured on the cover of TIME for KIDS, and are the subject of a new, full-feature documentary, Generation Growth. Stephen is now appearing in the new PBS educational series Let's Learn with Mister Ritz, was named the 2020 Change-Maker Award by NYC Food Policy Center for his response to COVID, named a 2021 Food Hero by TMZ Live, and was awarded the 2021 Artemis CEA Disruptor Award for his work, advocacy, and impact in public schools across NYC and America. In this episode, Stephen shares how farming and listening to the smallest of things are crucial in healing ourselves and our planet. Just like the plants, both need to be cultivated between planting the seed and growing them. As with our children -- to realize their goals and aspirations, there has to be nurturing in between. "The power of a soft, gentle voice really enables people to tune in. I always say, in this world of social media and so much negativity, we need to learn to separate the noise from the signal and really clue into what the universe is telling us. It's a remarkable way of doing business and going forward and finding your little place and your little piece on the planet." - Stephen Ritz   Listen IN Notes: 00:42 - Stephen being a big believer in meeting people where they're at: by looking and by listening.  02:26 - How the small things in life can bring peace and tranquility; listening to children being a critical piece -- they're making noise because they want to be heard.  04:10 - All it takes is one good, succinct message. 08:05 - Compassion as the key to tuning in to the signal of the kids. 09:56 - There are always three sides to a story: one side, the other side, and the truth.  11:07 - Why should the basic rules of life still apply despite changing technology? 12:30 - How do gardening and listening enable you to pause for a cause? 14:57 - What the beauty of farming teaches us how to nourish children. 16:35 - That one question that people are asking Stephen. 18:21 - Appreciation he receives from children that is worth life itself. 19:25 - Stephen shares what he wants people to hear.  21:44 - One thing Stephen wants us to think about and make a change in the way we treat children.  22:23 - Stephen talks about the Green Bronx Machine and its purpose: We grow vegetables, our vegetables grow students, our students grow the schools, and our schools grow happy, healthy, resilient communities.   Key Takeaways: "For me, compassion is the new curriculum. And compassion starts with hearing voices. I believe every child has a voice, and every child has a story. And our stories are our ladders to success. And if we listen, we learn, and if we learn, we share." - Stephen Ritz "In terms of tuning into the heart, into the emotion, including content, you want that content coming in a soft, gentle manner." - Stephen Ritz "Learning to be kinder, learning to be gentler, learning to slow down so that the wheels hit the ground enables you to go much faster." - Stephen Ritz     Notes/Mentions: Watch 'Let's Learn with Mr. Ritz': https://greenbronxmachine.org/letslearn/ Green Bronx Machine: https://greenbronxmachine.org/letslearn/   Connect with Stephen Ritz: Website1: https://stephenritz.com/ https://www.facebook.com/StephenRitzOfficial https://twitter.com/StephenRitz  Website 2:https://greenbronxmachine.org https://www.facebook.com/green.BX.machine/ https://twitter.com/greenBXmachine  https://www.youtube.com/greenbronxmachine  https://www.instagram.com/greenbronxmachine/   Connect with Raquel Ark: www.listeningalchemy.com Mobile: + 491732340722 contact@listeningalchemy.com LinkedIn

Meet the dynamic couple behind Eat the Change Impact, the philanthropic partner of the planet-based snack company, Eat the Change. Their organization is awarding $1.25 million over three years to national and local nonprofits working to promote vegan foods. More than half a million dollars is being given away in 2021 alone. Vegan nutritionist and author Tracye McQuirter, who surpassed her goal of helping 10,000 Black women go vegan in 2020, was one of the first recipients! Now, 36 incredible groups are getting grant money, including: the Black Vegetarian Society of Maryland, led by Naijha Wright Brown, also a #JaneUnChained host. AfriThrive, Animal Protection of New Mexico, DC Greens, Eat Real, Green Bronx Machine, Harlem Grown, Keep Growing Detroit and PlantPure Communities are among the award winners! Eatthechange.org leaders Seth Goldman and Julie Farkas talk to JaneUnChained.com's Jane Velez-Mitchell about this extraordinary and generous campaign!

Meet the dynamic couple behind Eat the Change Impact, the philanthropic partner of the planet-based snack company, Eat the Change. Their organization is awarding $1.25 million over three years to national and local nonprofits working to promote vegan foods. More than half a million dollars is being given away in 2021 alone. Vegan nutritionist and author Tracye McQuirter, who surpassed her goal of helping 10,000 Black women go vegan in 2020, was one of the first recipients! Now, 36 incredible groups are getting grant money, including: the Black Vegetarian Society of Maryland, led by Naijha Wright Brown, also a #JaneUnChained host. AfriThrive, Animal Protection of New Mexico, DC Greens, Eat Real, Green Bronx Machine, Harlem Grown, Keep Growing Detroit and PlantPure Communities are among the award winners! Eatthechange.org leaders Seth Goldman and Julie Farkas talk to JaneUnChained.com's Jane Velez-Mitchell about this extraordinary and generous campaign!

Meet the dynamic couple behind Eat the Change Impact, the philanthropic partner of the planet-based snack company, Eat the Change. Their organization is awarding $1.25 million over three years to national and local nonprofits working to promote vegan foods. More than half a million dollars is being given away in 2021 alone. Vegan nutritionist and author Tracye McQuirter, who surpassed her goal of helping 10,000 Black women go vegan in 2020, was one of the first recipients! Now, 36 incredible groups are getting grant money, including: the Black Vegetarian Society of Maryland, led by Naijha Wright Brown, also a #JaneUnChained host. AfriThrive, Animal Protection of New Mexico, DC Greens, Eat Real, Green Bronx Machine, Harlem Grown, Keep Growing Detroit and PlantPure Communities are among the award winners! Eatthechange.org leaders Seth Goldman and Julie Farkas talk to JaneUnChained.com's Jane Velez-Mitchell about this extraordinary and generous campaign!

Stephen Ritz is widely known as “America's Favorite Teacher.” After losing over 100 pounds and changing his life. Stephen created the first edible classroom in the world. He and his students have grown more than 100,000 pounds of vegetables in the South Bronx, and in the process, Stephen has moved school attendance from 40% to 93% daily, and helped to provide 2,200 youths with jobs in the Bronx. In our conversation, we discuss the many challenges faced by children growing up in the South Bronx, and his journey to provide health and hope to over 3 decades of children.“Its easier to get a handgun in this community than it is to get a fresh head of lettuce”  ~Stephen Ritz HighlightsAt one point Stephen was over 300 pounds. Food was a big part of Stephen's identity.He realized that he was overweight while advocating for healthy food in his school system, so he started to eat healthier.A child can't be well-read if they aren't well-fed.The Bronx has one of the highest fast food growth rates in the nation.Stephen believes that food justice is racial justice. Access to healthy and fresh foods should be a basic human right.At one point, Stephen's class of 17 troubled students, planted over 15,000 plant bulbs around the city. That was the beginning of their movement for urban remediation.At that point, he realized the importance of engaging kids.The Green Bronx Machine has partnered for 2200 living wage jobs.When you teach children about nature you teach them about nurture.They decided to grow food and were allowed to sell some of their produce in Whole Foods.Stephen's students later won the National Indoor Gardening Championship. They built one of the largest commercial farms in the South Bronx and annexed it next to a culinary kitchen.The group discovered tower gardens and began to use them as an integral part of learning.During the pandemic, they delivered over 100,000 pounds of food to 2300 families.Children are disconnected from food. Connecting kids to what their food is and where it comes from, helps them become part of the ecosystem.Show Resources: Stephen Ritz's Ted Talk: https://bit.ly/2VF9YhnDonate: https://bit.ly/37Bj2G8The Power of A Plant: https://amzn.to/3ABFtHGStephen on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3fY1bxEStephen on Facebook: https://bit.ly/3jQVjHRGreen Bronx Machine Swag: https://bit.ly/3CDMjOJ

For Stephen Ritz, growing produce goes hand in hand with educating children. Ritz, a lifelong educator from the Bronx, New York, founded Green Bronx Machine with the belief that healthy foods led to better health, educational, and job prospects for his students. He grew it from an afterschool program into a full K-12+ curriculum, and now students help him in growing fresh fruits and vegetables via indoor farms and an outdoor farm located on a decommissioned New York City street. In this episode of the Food Institute Podcast, Ritz shares his beliefs on the intersection of education and nutrition, and why his students succeed while learning how to farm indoors. Hosted By: Chris Campbell More About Stephen Ritz: Stephen Ritz is a South Bronx educator who believes that students should not have to leave their community to live, learn, and earn in a better one. An internationally acclaimed award-winning educator, Stephen is the author of the best-selling book, The Power Of A Plant, and founder of Green Bronx Machine. Known as “America's Favorite Teacher,” Stephen is responsible for creating the first edible classroom in the world, which he has evolved into the National Health, Wellness and Learning Center. He and his students have grown more than 100,000 pounds of vegetables in the South Bronx, and in the process, Stephen has moved school attendance from 40% to 93% daily and helped provide 2,200 youth jobs in the Bronx. More About Green Bronx Machine: Green Bronx Machine is an impact driven, for-purpose organization with 501(c)(3) status rooted in the belief that we are all Amer-I-Cans! Green Bronx Machine was born via collaboration between life-long educator Stephen Ritz and his students who observed that as waistlines expanded, engagement and opportunities in school decreased, school performance suffered, and hope and ambition became minimized. Originally an after-school, alternative program for high school students, Green Bronx Machine has evolved into K-12+ model fully integrated into core curriculum. Our students grow, eat and love their vegetables en route to spectacular academic performance. To learn more about Stephen Ritz, please visit: https://stephenritz.com/ To learn more about Green Bronx Machine, please visit: https://greenbronxmachine.org/ https://greenbronxmachine.org/letslearn/ To learn more about vertical/indoor farming, please read: https://foodinstitute.com/focus/fi-report-preview-vertical-farming-concept-experiencing-immense-growth/

Stephen Ritz is a South Bronx educator who believes that students should not have to leave their community to live, learn, and earn in a better one. An internationally acclaimed award-winning educator, Stephen is the author of the best-selling book, The Power Of A Plant, and founder of Green Bronx Machine. Stephen was a Top Ten Finalist for the Global Teacher Prize, named Global Humanitarian, Food Tank Hero, TEDx Prize Winner and a Global Food Educator, and has presented at the Obama White House three times. He and his students have grown more than 100,000 pounds of vegetables in the South Bronx, and in the process, Stephen has moved school attendance from 40% to 93% daily and helped provide 2,200 youth jobs in the Bronx. In this interview, we talk about: - Stephen's journey from pursuing professional basketball to becoming a teacher in the South Bronx - Stephen's thoughts on changing the narrative for students and education in lower socioeconomic areas - Stephen's advice for other teachers looking to make great impact - Stephen's journey from having students grow vegetables as a way to learn to turning that into a full blown curriculum Stephen's Website: https://stephenritz.com/ Green Bronx Machine Website: https://greenbronxmachine.org/ Grateful Living Website: http://grateful4living.com/​ My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroy81547/?...​ To Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Hn4ttt...​ To Listen on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...​ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Bo...​ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/gratefulliving4

Skip your morning cup of coffee before listening to Stephen Ritz's episode of CropTalk #KyleTalksAgTech! Stephen is sure to inspire and entertain you as we walk through the impressive work he is doing educating students via the Green Bronx Machine and his PBS show.  If you are looking for some inspiration, this is the episode for you!  

In this episode Joe and Nick interview Stephen Ritz about urban farming and growing food in classrooms. Stephen Ritz is a South Bronx educator who believes that students shouldn't have to leave their community to live, learn, and earn in a better one. Moving generations of students into spheres of personal and academic successes which they had never imagined — while reclaiming and rebuilding the Bronx — Stephen's extended student and community family have grown more than 100,000 pounds of vegetables in the Bronx while generating extraordinary academic performance.More about Stephen Ritz: Website: https://stephenritz.comMore about Joe Swartz:Website: https://amhydro.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/HydroConsultantMore about Nick Greens: Website: https://www.nickgreens.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/InfoGreensSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/nickgreens)

“When you teach kids about food, you teach them about life. You teach them that you can't rush growth. You can't go from seed to harvest without cultivation in the middle.”  - Stephen Ritz    Today, we’re delighted to have a powerful conversation with Steve Ritz, an internationally acclaimed award-winning educator, best-selling author, and founder of Green Bronx Machine. Education has always been an excellent avenue for creating the transformation we want. But like any path, it has some obstacles of its own. What if we can solve some of these barriers through the power of food? Steve talks about the benefits of bringing vegetable cultivation as a part of the curriculum in terms of student performance, teacher satisfaction, and parent engagement. Amazingly, we're also speaking about reaping these advantages for a long time. He also narrates the inspiring experiences of kids who benefited from this project. Food is not only created to fill and satisfy an empty stomach. Listen as Steve talks about how the process itself of growing, cultivating, and nurturing it can also unlock the greatness in all of us and awaken the spirit of equality and unity. Truly, food is a language we all should start learning and using more often. Check out today's episode and be amazed at how food is changing schools one vegetable garden at a time.       Connect with Justine:  Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn   Connect with NextGenChef: Website  Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  YouTube NextGenChef App   Episode Highlights:   02:18 It All Started With A Dream 06:01 Food Justice Is Racial Justice 12:09 Unity In The Community 16:32 Scaling All Over The World 24:55 Farming Is The New Sexy 27:54 Growing A Greener World 32:46 Start In Order To Be Great 35:00 Sustainable Gangster

Stephen is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning educator, author of best-selling book, The Power Of A Plant and Founder of Green Bronx Machine. Known as America's favorite teacher, Stephen is responsible for creating the first edible classroom in the world. He and his students have grown more than 100,000 pounds of vegetables in the South Bronx, have been celebrated at the Obama White House three times, have been featured on the cover of TIME for KIDS and are the subject of a new, full-feature documentary, Generation Growth. Stephen was just awarded the 2020 Change-Maker Award by NYC Food Policy Center for his work, advocacy and impact in public schools across NYC and America! To date, Stephen's work has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, USA Today, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and on ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX, NBC, TNT, Disney, NPR, PBS, Univision, Upworthy and in many international media outlets. His TEDx Manhattan Talk boasts over 975,000 views – ranked in the Top 10 Food / Education TED Talks of all time and is used for teacher training / workforce development globally. Stephen is an Office Depot featured teacher – Teachers Change Lives! In 2013, the United States Department of State and New York Foreign Press Corps toured representatives from 40 countries across Stephen's worksites and classrooms. Dedicated to harvesting hope and cultivating minds, Stephen dreams of opening a nationally replicable Career Technical Education public school rooted in urban agriculture, green, and sustainable initiatives. Stephen recently lost more than 100 pounds by modeling positive behavior and eating what he and his students grow in school. Stephen believes that together, via collaboration, coalition and get to yes solutions, we can all prosper!

Gardeners know that eating food you grew yourself raises your spirits in a way that few things can. My guest this week, educator and author of The Power of a Plant, Stephen Ritz, recognized the benefit of growing edible plants to enrich students’ bodies and minds in a variety of ways, and his Green Bronx Machine has now inspired a documentary on the far-reaching benefits of raising and sharing nutritious food.

The Green Bronx Machine is one of the most inspiring organizations in the green schools movement! Stephen Ritz is the founder of the Green Bronx Machine, and today we will talk to him about how urban agriculture is changing children's lives through better nutrition and new attitudes toward food. At a time when our nation is keenly aware of the disparity between high- and low-income communities, the Green Bronx machine brings action, opportunity and empowerment to students who do not have access to food that will fuel their minds and bodies for optimal health. Tune in and be inspired!

The Green Bronx Machine is one of the most inspiring organizations in the green schools movement! Stephen Ritz is the founder of the Green Bronx Machine, and today we will talk to him about how urban agriculture is changing children’s lives through better nutrition and new attitudes toward food. At a time when our nation is keenly aware of the disparity between high- and low-income communities, the Green Bronx machine brings action, opportunity and empowerment to students who do not have access to food that will fuel their minds and bodies for optimal health. Tune in and be inspired!

Teacher/ motivator Stephen Ritz, founder of The Green Bronx Machine," and director Mu Sun, describe an inspiring film of The Heartland International Film Festival.   The conversation includes background information on the filmmaker, and an especially sincere, motivational, and poignant philosophy about food, children, teachers, and teaching.

This week on OFR we talk with Stephen Ritz, Founder of Green Bronx Machine. Self-proclaimed CEO – Chief Eternal Optimist – of Bronx County. 20+ years of experience as an educator, administrator, urban farmer. And, with a legendary TED talk to his name, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Relentless Cities is a series of powerful stories and conversations documenting a community's dedicated pursuit of health in the face of COVID- 19, racial injustice, system limitations and health inequities – all being met by an unyielding spirit of resilience. We begin with a three-part series in NYC.  Meet Change Agents Stephen and Lizette Ritz, founders of the Green Bronx Machine who are on track to help millions of under-served communities be healthier one child at a time In this episode you'll learn: How the COVID -19 crisis has exposed just how vulnerable underserved communities are when it comes to underlying risks, fragilities, and inequities in our food system; Why food justice matters; How to empower a community through healthy fresh food; How to use food to promote community and economic development; How you too can become a change agent in your community and beyond. 

Prime Minister Carolyn Steel joins Sheila Dillon for this special edition of The Food Programme from the year 2030. Sheila discusses the prime minister’s rise to power after Britain saw food shortages and riots in the 2020s and what it is like to now live in Sitopia - a land with food at the centre of everyone’s lives. After meeting the prime minister in the Rose Garden, which is now a bounteous vegetable garden, Ms Steel and Sheila take a walk around London to see the radical changes to the country. She meets Chris Young from the Real Bread Campaign to hear about how the banning of industrial bread has created thousands of jobs in bakeries. Sheila holograms with Stephen Ritz, founder of The Green Bronx Machine, to hear how his pioneering work inspired the prime minister to turn school playing fields into gardens and classrooms into kitchens. And they speak with ‘agriwilding’ farmer Rebecca Hosking to see how nature and farming now coexist. Back in the Rose Garden Sheila interviews the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Patrick Holden - who in 2020 was the chief executive of The Sustainable Food Trust - to question him on how Britain can afford to live in Sitopia without a substantial raise in taxes. Prime Minister Steel explains how the Good Food Revolution all began after her book ‘Sitopia: How Food Can Save the World’ was published in 2020. Presenter: Sheila Dillon Producer: Emma Weatherill

On "Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg," Dani talks about the teachers who are working to ensure that their students remain healthy and engaged while they're home. Hear from New York City educators Stephen Ritz of the Green Bronx Machine and Tony Hillery of Harlem Grown as well as Alice Waters of the Edible Schoolyard Project and Mara Fleishman of the Chef Ann Foundation.  While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

Infectious positivity, inspirational curiousity, humor, and you Stephen Ritz is a South Bronx educator who believes that students should not have to leave their community to live, learn, and earn in a better one. An internationally acclaimed award-winning educator, Stephen is the author of the best-selling book, The Power Of A Plant, and founder of Green Bronx Machine. Known as “America's Favorite Teacher,” Stephen is responsible for creating the first edible classroom in the world, which he has evolved into the National Health, Wellness and Learning Center. He and his students have grown more than 100,000 pounds of vegetables in the South Bronx, and in the process, Stephen has moved school attendance from 40% to 93% daily and helped provide 2,200 youth jobs in the Bronx. Stephen was a Top Ten Finalist for the Global Teacher Prize, named Global Humanitarian, Food Tank Hero, TEDx Prize Winner and a Global Food Educator, and has presented at the Obama White House three times. A replica of his classroom was installed in the US Botanic Gardens in Washington, DC. His curriculum is being used in hundreds of schools across the United States, and internationally from Colombia to Dubai, from Canada to Cairo, to Doha, and beyond. He has even met the Pope! To date, Stephen's work has been featured by Forbes, Fast Company, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, FOX, TNT, Disney, Discovery TV, NPR, Teach Middle East, The Gulf National, and countless others. His TED talk boasts more than 1 million views, ranks in the Top 10 Food/Education TED Talks of all time, and is used for teacher training/workforce development globally. Stephen was featured in the film adaptation of Michael Pollan's best-selling book, In Defense of Food and appeared on ABC's The Chew, The Rockefeller Foundation's Food for Thought, NPR's 50 Great Teachers, All Things Considered, and American Graduate. The State University of New York uses his curriculum to train teachers in all content areas. His recent appearance on PBS' Growing A Greener World (Episode 808) won an Emmy Award, and he and his students were recently featured on the covers of TIME for KIDS and Scholastic Magazine. Stephen splits his time between his home in the Bronx and his residence in The Sustainable City in Dubai, UAE, where he serves as Director of Health, Wellness and Innovation for Esol Education at Fairgreen International School. Currently, Stephen is working with Anthem Blue Cross / Blue Shield to bring Green Bronx Machine programming to 22 American cities across 19 states. He holds advanced degrees in special education, administration and school leadership, and an honorary Ph.D. from the State University of New York for his award-winning curriculum. Affectionately known as America's Favorite Teacher, Stephen has taught extensively in elementary, middle, and high school settings has served as a school leader in a variety of capacities and has lectured at colleges and universities around the globe. Additionally, he has created workforce development programs for people of determination, disconnected youth, and second opportunity adults that have resulted in over 2,200 jobs. Topics Discussed in the Podcast  Why he wears a cheese hat How he lost 100 lbs Social determinants of health from inequities Food deserts and food swamps how he created the first edible classroom How he is transforming the Bronx why plants are the lynchpin to changing the world Listen Now   Resources Green Bronx Machine Website Stephen Ritz TED Talk Books Mentioned Stephen Ritz's book: The Power of a Plant 2 Ways to Give Back to the Show     ________________________________________________   Don't Miss an Episode: Subscribe!              

Today we celebrate the Roman leader who is still honored with flowers. We'll also learn about one of the best botanical writers of all time. We celebrate the man remembered with the naming of the Cottonwood. We also celebrate the life of a beloved English poet through his poetry - every year on this day, he is still remembered with flowers. We Grow That Garden Library™ with a book about a teacher from the Bronx who germinated an idea and started a movement, changing his life and the lives of his students. And then we'll wrap things up with the inspiring story of the Fairchild Tropical Garden. But first, let's catch up on some Greetings from Gardeners around the world and today's curated news.   Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart   Gardener Greetings To participate in the Gardener Greetings segment, send your garden pics, stories, birthday wishes and so forth to Jennifer@theDailyGardener.org And, to listen to the show while you're at home, just ask Alexa or Google to play The Daily Gardener Podcast. It's that easy.   Jennifer's Pesto Resources (During the Pandemic) Pine Nuts from Amazon   Curated News 12 front garden ideas – inviting designs to boost your curb appeal | Real Homes These front garden ideas will transform your home, creating a smarter and more individual look 1. Keep The Route To The Front Door Simple 2. Choose Big Plant Pots To Create An Impactful Look 3. Choose Sympathetic Materials For The Path 4. Highlight Your Front Door 5. Hide The Bins In A Bin Shed 6. Pay Attention To Paintwork In A Small Front Garden 7. Paint Your Front Gate An Inviting Colour 8. Choose Cost-effective Gravel To Cover Ugly Surfaces 9. Parking Or Garden? 10. Choose A Planting Structure For Year-Round Interest 11. Pick A Front Garden Colour Scheme 12. Consider Front Garden Security   Alright, that's it for today's gardening news. Now, if you'd like to check out my curated news articles and blog posts for yourself, you're in luck, because I share all of it with the Listener Community in the Free Facebook Group - The Daily Gardener Community. There's no need to take notes or search for links - the next time you're on Facebook, search for Daily Gardener Community and request to join. I'd love to meet you in the group.   Important Events 100BC    Today is the birthday of the Roman leader Julius Caesar. On this day, Romans lay a wreath at his statue and throw flowers in the Forum where Caesar was murdered.   1858   Today is the anniversary of the death of Jane Loudon, who married the prolific garden writer and publisher: John Claudius Loudon. Jane was a fantastic writer in her own right, but she also possessed an inner determination; she was a survivor. When her father lost the family fortune and died penniless when Jane was only seventeen, it marked the beginning of her career writing Science Fiction. In her books, Jane wrote about cultural and technological advancements that eventually came to pass. For instance, the women in her books wore pants. In any case, her successful book, The Mummy was published anonymously, in 1827, in three parts. Now, in one of her books, Jane featured something she imagined would come to pass: a steam plow. And that concept attracted the attention of John Claudius Loudon - her future husband. Loudon wrote a favorable review of her book, but he also wanted to meet the author. Loudon didn't realize Jane had written the book using a nom de plume of Henry Colburn. Well, long story short and much to Loudon's delight, Henry was Jane; they fell in love and married a year later. The Loudons were considered high society, and they called Charles Dickens, a friend. As John and Jane grew old together, John's arms stopped working as he grew older, after an attack of rheumatic fever. As a result, Jane became John's arms, and she handled most of his writing. And, when his arms got so bad that surgeons needed to amputate his right arm, they found him in his garden, which he said he intended to return to immediately after the operation. Two weeks before Christmas in 1843, John was dictating his last book to Jane, and the book was called, A Self Instruction to Young Gardeners. Around midnight, he suddenly collapsed into Jane's arms and died. To honor John's memory,  Jane completed the book on her own.   1890  Today is the anniversary of the death of the American explorer, soldier, and the first Presidential candidate of the Republican Party, John Charles Frémont. Frémont is remembered as "The Pathfinder" after helping many Americans who were heading West by creating documents and maps of his expeditions. In fact, John and his wife, Jesse, created an entire map of the Oregon Trail.   Now, when Frémont saw Nebraska for the first time, he didn't see merely an endless prairie; he saw beauty. To Fremont, the entire state was one big garden, accentuated with fertile soil, swaying grasses, and wildflowers as far as the eye could see. Fremont was one of the first explorers to write about cottonwood trees. He discovered them near Pyramid Lake in Nevada on Jan 6, 1844. Years later, botanists would name the Cottonwood in his honor, calling it the "Populus fremontii." Cottonwoods are the fastest growing trees in North America. And, the Cottonwood was sacred to Native Americans. To the Apaches, the Cottonwood was a symbol of the sun. In Northern Mexico, Cottonwood boughs were used in funeral rights, and the Cottonwood was a symbol of the afterlife.  And, there's an old Native American Legend that tells how the Cottonwood tree gave birth to the stars. For a time, the tree held the stars and kept them safe. But then, one late spring, the stars were released until they filled the night sky. And, every spring, we can remember the legend when we see the female trees release their star-shaped seeds into the air.  Now when I was growing up, all of the beautiful elm trees at my childhood home succumbed to Dutch elm disease.  My parents selected cottonwoods because they knew they would grow quickly -  up to six feet or more each year. They couldn't stand how naked the house looked without the beautiful large elm trees. In truth, there's no comparison between a cottonwood tree and an elm tree, which is regarded as one of the most beautiful trees by landscape painters. Still, Cottonwood trees do grow quickly. But be forewarned: Cottonwood trees often have weak wood that can easily be injured or damaged. Cottonwood trees are in the Poplar species. Only the female trees produce the fluffy cotton seeds that float through the air and collect in your garden and garage in June.    Unearthed Words Today is the birthday of the English poet John Clare who was born on this day in 1793. Each year on his birthday, the children of his village make little flower posies, and then they lay them on his grave where they read poems they write in his honor.   All nature has a feeling: woods, fields, brooks Are life eternal; and in silence they Speak happiness beyond the reach of books; There's nothing mortal in them; their decay Is the green life of change; to pass away And come again in blooms revivified. Its birth was heaven, eternal is its stay, And with the sun and moon shall still abide Beneath their day and night and heaven wide. — John Clare, English poet,  All Nature Has a Feeling   Loud is the summer's busy song The smallest breeze can find a tongue, While insects of each tiny size Grow teasing with their melodies, Till noon burns with its blistering breath Around, and day lies still as death. — John Clare, English poet, July   Grow That Garden Library The Power of a Plant by Stephen Ritz This book came out in 2017, and the subtitle is A Teacher's Odyssey to Grow Healthy Minds and Schools. Stephen Ritz is the founder of Green Bronx Machine and has devoted his teaching career to improving health and academic results for children in the South Bronx. His work has been featured by major media and documentaries, including Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, and his TEDx talk has been viewed over one million times. Dubbed the Pied Piper of Peas, Ritz and his family reside in the Bronx and continue to farm with children all year round. Tom Colicchio said, "The only thing bigger than the impact Stephen has had helping countless students understand the importance of their food choices is his infectious personality. The Power of a Plant outlines the remarkable work he has done to date and provides a blueprint for how educators around the world can implement his learnings effectively." The book is 304 pages of Stephen's's story - "a green teacher from the Bronx who let one idea germinate into a movement and changed his students'' lives by learning alongside them." You can get a copy of The Power of a Plant by Stephen Ritz and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for around $7.   Today's Botanic Spark 1986  On this day, The Billings Gazette ran a story about the Fairchild Tropical Garden in a post called Florida Garden is a Must for Touring Northerners. It starts out this way: "Northern garden-lovers looking for a lush botanical escape from their own barren landscapes claim that this garden is at its best when northern winters are at their worst. Others say that it is prettiest right now and in the fall. In any case, this 83-acre botanical garden just south of Miami's Coconut Grove is a four-season attraction for those who are interested in plants, beauty, or in oddities. The Fairchild Tropical Garden is a distinguished first cousin of the Arnold Arboretum in Boston, a place where rare plants are preserved, the public is educated, and serious research is conducted. Be forewarned that a visit can quickly reduce the most seasoned gardener to amateur status. You may know all about the different kinds of Iris and Lilacs, all about how to prune raspberries or harden off Tomato starts; you may even know your way around rare shrubs and trees. But what do you know about Lilly Pilly, Bushman's poison, Cannonball trees, or Shower-of-Orchid vines? A trip to Fairchild Tropical Garden is like a trip to a foreign country - actually, several foreign countries. More than 4,000 different plants from Australia, Sumatra, the Bahamas, Burma, South Africa, Jamaica, Zamboanga, and many other tropical regions have taken root here. There are Ficus Trees considerably larger than the one under your skylight. In fact, only a few representative species are grown here because of the great area each mature one requires. A single tree has been known to cover acres! "Ficus" means fig, and some kinds do bear edible fruit. So do some members of the philodendron family, which grow outdoors here year-round. One, called "Monstera deliciosa" (believe it or not), sets fruit that is among the world's most delectable. The Bromeliads... can be seen here growing on and among rocks and trees... There are ...  jewel-colored tropical Water Lilies, ... Orchids that bloom year-round on the grounds … the orange and purple Bird-of-Paradise and the Columbian Flamingo Flower, or Anthurium, which looks a bit like a shiny red patent-leather Calla Lily. Many of the plants are definitely odd. The 40-foot-tall Cannonball Tree, a native timber tree in some South American countries, produces fragrant, fleshy, 6-inch purple blossoms on strange special branches that the trunk sprouts near the ground at flowering time. These are followed by 8-inch rusty cannonballs, dangling from heavy strings suspended from the trunk, that make a noise when the wind blows them against one another. In their native South American countries, these "cannonballs" are often hollowed out and turned into drinking cups. Another curiosity is the Calabash tree, whose egg-shaped fruit, when dried and filled with seed or BB shot, becomes the maracas familiar in Latin music. The garden is named after Dr. David Fairchild, an American plant explorer responsible for introducing many important species and varieties of plants to us, such as soybeans, dates, and improved varieties of rice, wheat and cotton. He was a close friend of the garden's founder, a New York tax attorney named Col. Robert H. Montgomery [co-founders of what is today the world's largest accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers. Montgomery] spent his fortune on collecting tropical plants and providing a place for them to grow. The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is located at 10901 Old Cutler Road, Miami."" During the pandemic, the Garden is open every day, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., with special times available for seniors and individuals who identify as vulnerable. For your safety and theirs, guests and members must preregister for timed entry. Reserve Your Timed Ticket and Review their COVID Policies and Procedures on their website.

Today on “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg,” Dani interviews Stephen Ritz, South Bronx Educator and Founder of Green Bronx Machine. They discuss food security in New York City and how his organization is moving forward with food access efforts.  While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

Globally acclaimed teacher Stephen Ritz shows readers how, in one of the nation's poorest communities, his students thrive in school and in life by growing, cooking, eating, and sharing the bounty of their green classroom. His innovative program began by accident. When a flower broke up a brawl among burly teenagers at a tough South Bronx high school, Stephen saw a teachable moment to connect students with nature. By using plants as an entry point for all learning, he witnessed nothing short of a transformation. Attendance soared from 40 to 93 percent. Disciplinary issues plummeted. In a school with a 17 percent graduation rate and high crime rate, every one of his students finished school and stayed out of jail. More than 50,000 pounds of vegetables later, he has figured out how to bring the magic of gardening into the heart of the school day for students of all ages.Join us as Stephen shares his practical solutions for growing his favorite crop: organically grown citizens.

How does a teacher from the New York Bronx become close friends with an Emirati Sheikh? They might seem like an unlikely duo but their passion for people and the planet has led them to forge a partnership that is inspiring and impacting the world. The Green Sheikh, His Highness Dr Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi and one of the world's favourite teachers, the Green Bronx Machine’s Stephen Ritz join Sally to tell their story, and the projects that they’re working on together, including a book and a farm, right here in the UAE! There is even a special appearance by the Green Sheikh's daughter Maryam!

There are few teachers who have created such disruptive change in education that they have earned the admiration of everyone from Michelle Obama, to Oprah to the Pope, amongst many. Stephen Ritz, the founder of Green Bronx Machine and Author of Power of a Plant as well as the Make it Happen Children’s Books is known as America’s favourite Teacher, and here he shares with Sally the power of books and his experience at the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival. Listen to #Pulse95Radio in the UAE by tuning in on your radio (95.00 FM) or online on our website: www.pulse95radio.com ************************ Follow us on Social. www.facebook.com/pulse95radio www.twitter.com/pulse95radio www.instagram.com/pulse95radio

The Michigan Association of Computer Users in Learning (MACUL) held it's 2019 conference in Detroit, MI. I was lucky enough to attend for the 3rd year in a row. This was my first year presenting! My presentation was on podcasting, and it's available here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Iya6f8claI49hX7PYPdHgTe8Ot4Fh6alm1Aru7Ebg7I/edit?usp=sharing Stephen Ritz- Founder of the Green Bronx Machine; author: “Power of the Plant.” Twitter: @StephenRitz Community Podcasting @rmbyrne FreeTech4Teachers.com PracticalEdTech.com Games! @Daniel_Spitzley “Gizmos” @lesliefisher https://lesliefisher.com/ Twitter: @Mr_JVD Instagram: @mr_jvdusen stemteacherpodcast@gmail.com

Measuring can be fun! In this episode we talk about how Pre-K through 4th graders are measuring to the nearest inch. You can do it with any age! We also preview the Michigan Association of Computer Users in Learning (MACUL) 2019 conference in Detroit. Keynote speakers: Stephen Ritz- Founder of the Green Bronx Machine; author: “Power of the Plant.” Twitter: @StephenRitz Gerry Brooks- Elementary school principal and YouTube sensation Twitter: @gerrybrookssprin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-6WUaQSC_AfKZrinPuhVFw Twitter: @Mr_JVD Instagram: @mr_jvdusen stemteacherpodcast@gmail.com

How do you complete transformative change within a tough neighborhood like the South Bronx? One vegetable at a time. I talk with Stephen Ritz from Green Bronx Machine about NYC, unique challenges within the UAE, Dubai sustainable city, and how to get students who may apprehensive to create and get off the couch to take the first step. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

We talk to the acclaimed teacher, Stephen Ritz, an Urban Farmer, Best-Selling Author & Founder of Green Bronx Machine. He cultivates passion, purpose & hope all over the world by teaching his students to grow their own vegetables, transforming entire communities in the process. Listen to #Pulse95Radio in the UAE by tuning in on your radio or online on our website: www.pulse95radio.com ************************ Follow us on Social. www.facebook.com/pulse95radio www.twitter.com/pulse95radio www.instagram.com/pulse95radio

Welcome back to another episode of the Future of Agriculture’s Follow Up Friday series - the segment when we follow up with listener-submitted questions and comments related to their favorite previous episodes of the show.   This week, Chad Ingels shares his favorite episode of the Future of Agriculture Podcast, why he was inspired by Stephen Ritz of Green Bronx Machine, and why he says it helped the audience have a better understanding of the potential of agriculture. He also shares why he enjoyed the Blockchain series and why he believes it has helped our audience better understand how this technology can impact the agriculture industry.   Resources & Related Content:   Episode 51: The Power of A Plant with Stephen Ritz of Green Bronx Machine Episode 81: Applications for Blockchain in Agriculture - Part 1 Episode 82: Applications for Blockchain in Agriculture - Part 2 Episode 83: How Tokens are Used to Decentralize the Agricultural Supply Chain with Origin Trail Episode 84: The Journey of Blockchain Adoption in Agricultural Supply Chains with Dr. Nishant Dass Episode 85: How Blockchain Technology Can Help Farmers in Developing Countries with David Davies of AgUnity and AgriLedger Episode 86: How Blockchain Works with Alex Danco of Social Capital Episode 87: Blockchain and the Internet of Food with Raja Ramachandran of Ripe.io Episode 88: Farmgate Blockchain Applications with Emma Weston of AgriDigital Episode 89: Farmer and Rancher Perspectives on Data, Blockchain, and the Consumer with Jarod McDaniel Episode 90: Final Perspectives on Blockchain with James Song and Alex Danco Join the Conversation! To get your most pressing ag questions answered and share your perspective on various topics we’ve discussed on the Future of Agriculture podcast, head over to SpeakPipe.com/FutureofAg and leave a recorded message! We want to hear from you and feature you on a future Follow Up Friday segment!

'Ordinary doing the extraordinary' - this fits Stephen Ritz to a T. Stephen Ritz - author, educator, innovator and urban farmer is investing his one handful of life in the youth of his community. His leadership journey took him from the Bronx to the White House and back simply because he cared what kids were eating, how often they were attending school and if they were graduating. 'The Green Graffiti, an urban farming revolution, has taken Stephen and his students from their Greenhouse to the White House and from hope to the Pope.' Intrigued about the revolution? Learn more about it - Green Bronx Machine and / or read Stephen's book "The Power of a Plant." Stephen, as well as Phil, Gerry and the rest of the food bank network believe: kids who aren't well fed, will not be well read. This makes total sense, right?!

Jo-Anne McArthur stars in the award winning documentary “The Ghosts in Our Machine” She is the founder of the “We Animals” project, a photography project which artfully explores our relationship with animals and their exploitation. Her contacts are listed below: Website 1 Website 2 Website 3 Instagram: WeAnimals Twitter: @weanimals Facebook: We Animals Jo-Anne's recommendations for coping w/ trauma, as activists: Aftershock by Pattrice Jones, Beyond Beliefs by Melanie Joy, Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, and Stephen ritz. founder of the Green Bronx Machine, author of "The Power of a Plant - A Teacher's Odyssey to Grow Healthy Minds and Schools." Brandon Kirkwood (Special Guest Host)Vegan News Facebook Vegan News Youtube News of the DayExcuse of the Day: Jobs!Activist Tip of the Day: Stream live video to the ACLU

EARL’s Kitchen Gardens (http://www.earlskitchengardens.com)  now services over four dozen residences, three schools, as well as a summer camp for at-risk girls. Tell me about your first gardening experience? Being with Dad who shared his love of nature. Youngest of 8 kids and home with dad a lot. What does organic gardening/earth friendly mean to you? As a teenager,  NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School)  (http://www.nols.edu) –  learned about “No Trace Camping” Working in harmony with nature, encouraging biodiversity, following the rhythm of the seasons, working with the land not against it, these things are all so important if we are going to have a healthy ecosystem and something we are going leave behind for future generations. Who or what inspired you to start using organic techniques? In high school brother started an organic vegetable and poultry farm. Went to University Rhode Island and there is tons of agricultural land there. Worked in a conventional farm for about a week everything was just a number, no integrity and wasteful. Found Green View Farm and loved it and got to learn the soup to nuts including installing deer fencing, tapping a water source, ways to irrigat  e the property, seeding, creating soil mixes, harvesting and distributing through CSA … How did you learn how to garden organically? By learning about practicing what she learned on farm, although gardening is a bit different then farming. Tell us about something that grew well this year. Heirloom tomatoes – 6 different kinds. The Queen of Tomatoes – Cherokee Purple, Black Prince, Straight German, Moskvich. Is there something you would do different next year or want to try/new? Personally more shelling beans, and water barrels to help heat hoop house. Fruit trees, figs and herbs and perennial plantings for clients. Cold frames to extend seasons. Tell me about something that didn’t work so well this season. One of the biggest challenges is empty spaces that creates a lot of hand weeding. Steve Ritz from the  Green Bronx Machine (http://greenbronxmachine.org) Something that you find is easy to grow and is generally successful every-time. Cucumbers – prolific. Swiss chard. Lettuce. Start with just 3-4 things you want to grow and then add something a year later. Something you would steer new gardeners away from that you find is typically challenging to grow in your climate. People who have never grown food before want to grow Avacado trees. Italian zucchini – A cucuzza, or gagootz. A zuccini that grows on 50 foot vine! Fruits/zukes are like 3-5 feet. Tell us about the best crop you ever grew. Tomatoes. Make a priority to prune and inspect and overly nurture tomatoes plants. Last year grew lots of hot peppers – jalapeños, habaneros, ghost peppers … and eggplants. Eggplant tip – start inside as early as possible and then put out as early as possible for long growing season… pull of leaves, prune to get more flowers, fish emulsion and chicken manure produce a lot of leaf and not a lot of fruit. Trace minerals are important – oyster shells and crush them to boost calcium. Need to watch NPK. What is the best gardening advice you have ever received? At GreenView Garden boss was a sous chef and grew for restaurants. Would pick baby squash. He would say “Soft hands.” Work with nature don’t work against it. Which activity is your least favorite activity to do in the garden. Shutting it down. Would love to have all gardens growing 4 seasons. What is your favorite activity to do in the garden. Looking at it at the end of the day and thinking about what to do different in the following year. A favorite tool that you like to use? If you had to move and could only take one tool with you what would it be. My shovel because it is everything … it can scrape boots,... Support this podcast

Stephen Ritz, the founder of Green Bronx Machine, is a Bronx native and educator in the public school system, who has seen how an excess of cheap, unhealthy food can negatively impact a community. After his students responded positively to a classes flower planting project, he decided to start growing vegetables to empower the kids to eat better and learn skills that could give them real job prospects. This quickly blossomed into the powerhouse that is the Green Bronx Machine, a nonprofit organization geared toward empowering k-12 students to grow their own food. The organization's National Health, Wellness and Learning Center is a state of the art facility with a year round commercial indoor vertical farm and food processing kitchen with solar and alternative energy generators. Together, Stephen and his students have grown 40,000 pounds of vegetables, but he enthusiastically insists their favorite crops include healthy students, high performing schools, graduates, registered voters, living wage jobs and members of the middle class. Keep listening to hear Stephen's detailed stories about how healthy, plant-based foods have completely changed his student's lives, and his hopes for how the Green Bronx Machine movement can inspire similar transformations across the world! Show notes for this episode: https://eftp.co/stephen-ritz Learn how Eat For The Planet can help your brand: https://eftp.co/services Twitter: @nilzach

Stephen Ritz @StephenRitz grows 50,000 pounds of vegetables in the Bronx. As founder of the Green Bronx Machine, his students grow plants while learning more and going onto college. Exciting! www.coolcatteacher.com/e131 Today's sponsor is Kid's Discover. They're doing awesome things to drive inquiry based learning. Check out coolcatteacher.com/discover and see how the Kid's Discover online platform lets students enter discovery mode. This fun, visual tool lets students explore 150 different science and social studies units for elementary and middle school learners. And while they can explore a wide variety of topics from the US Constitution to Ecology and Ancient China, I also like that you can assign these nonfiction texts and three different lexiles to supplement what you're doing in the classroom. Go to coolcatteacher.com/discover and get started for free. They support single sign-on with Google and Clever.

Globally acclaimed teacher Stephen Ritz shows readers how, in one of the nation's poorest communities, his students thrive in school and in life by growing, cooking, eating, and sharing the bounty of their green classroom. His innovative program began by accident. When a flower broke up a brawl among burly teenagers at a tough South Bronx high school, Stephen saw a teachable moment to connect students with nature. By using plants as an entry point for all learning, he witnessed nothing short of a transformation. Attendance soared from 40 to 93 percent. Disciplinary issues plummeted. In a school with a 17 percent graduation rate and high crime rate, every one of his students finished school and stayed out of jail. More than 50,000 pounds of vegetables later, he has figured out how to bring the magic of gardening into the heart of the school day for students of all ages.Join us as Stephen shares his practical solutions for growing his favorite crop: organically grown citizens.

You thought you knew project-based learning? You haven't seen anything yet. In this episode, I interview Stephen Ritz, a Bronx teacher who has spent the last decade developing an incredible school-based gardening project called the Green Bronx Machine, which feeds the local community, builds student knowledge in multiple content areas, and creates strong cooperative bonds with local businesses and other stakeholders. Every teacher who has ever thought they didn't have the resources to give their students an outstanding education needs to listen to this.

Globally acclaimed teacher Stephen Ritz shows readers how, in one of the nation's poorest communities, his students thrive in school and in life by growing, cooking, eating, and sharing the bounty of their green classroom. His innovative program began by accident. When a flower broke up a brawl among burly teenagers at a tough South Bronx high school, Stephen saw a teachable moment to connect students with nature. By using plants as an entry point for all learning, he witnessed nothing short of a transformation. Attendance soared from 40 to 93 percent. Disciplinary issues plummeted. In a school with a 17 percent graduation rate and high crime rate, every one of his students finished school and stayed out of jail. More than 50,000 pounds of vegetables later, he has figured out how to bring the magic of gardening into the heart of the school day for students of all ages.Join us as Stephen shares his practical solutions for growing his favorite crop: organically grown citizens.

You'll love this story about how helping students nurture plants is improving lives, families and test scores. Follow: @bamradionetwork @greenBXmachine @raepica1 @suzieboss #edchat #edreform #ece #earlyed #AskingWhatIf Stephen Ritz, Founder of Green Bronx Machine, Top Ten Global Teacher Prize Finalist, one of NPR's 50 Greatest Teachers and BAMMY Laureate - Elementary Educator of the Year is a South Bronx educator. He wrote The Power of A Plant with co-author Suzie Boss. Suzie Boss, education writer and consultant, is the author of several books, including Reinventing Project-Based Learning and Bringing Innovation to School

Stephen Ritz is such an inspiring person. He is full of energy and passion, and has a true love of making a difference in the world. Stephen is a teacher in the Bronx, New York. But, he is unlike any teacher you have probably met before. After accidentally starting a garden in his classroom, his life and the lives of the children in his school, and really his whole community has completely been transformed. Stephen and his students began growing so much food, that they were able to provide food for the entire school. This soon took off, and Stephen and his students started creating gardens all over the Bronx and even supplied students with paying jobs. What Stephen and his community are doing is not only supplying fresh fruit and vegetables where they are currently not available, but also helping these children, who most are extremely low-income, or in group homes, or foster homes, to love being at school and increasing engagement. His class went from 40% attendance to 93% daily. It's really incredible the impact he is making and people have noticed... Stephen has done several TED Talks, his work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Guardian, ABC, CNN, NBC, NPR, and him and his class were even invited to the White House in 2014. And, as awesome as all of that it, by implementing the healthy eating that he has learned about and by growing his own food, Stephen has lost over 100 lbs. I really can't say enough about Stephen. He is extremely inspiring and his energy and passion is contagious.  Check out these videos and TED Talks featuring Stephen's Work! https://youtu.be/mygfJZAQZ3g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7uFnvnjIKw https://www.ted.com/talks/stephen_ritz_a_teacher_growing_green_in_the_south_bronx?language=en Check out Stephen's new book The Power of a Plant! http://stephenritz.com/the-power-of-a-plant/ Be sure to keep up with Stephen and The Green Bronx Machine on social media: Facebook: Stephen Ritz, Green Bronx Machine Instagram: @stephenritz, @greenbronxmachine Twitter: @stephenritz, @greenbxmachine  Websites: stephenritz.com greenbronxmachine.org     Credits: Music: www.bensound.com

Today’s guest is from the Bronx in New York. His journey to agriculture started accidentally while he was dealing with student conflict in his class. From zero agricultural background, Stephen Ritz created a system – a whole school program that changed how the students, the parents, and the community view agriculture. This program, called Green Bronx Machine, is more than about educating his students about farming. Stephen sees it as a way to solve real problems in the community like lack of student engagement in school, poor education, and poor health including unequal opportunities for the disadvantaged. On today’s episode, Stephen talks about the effects and benefits of Green Bronx Machine to the students and the community as a whole. He shares how he integrates growing food with academics. Stephen also elaborates on one of the goals of the program’s model, which is not about a “me” mentality, but a “we” mentality. This outlook is about people everywhere working together in achieving the goal of making wise choices, living healthy, and personal and community development. He is encouraged to see the outcome as his students are empowered to make healthy choices as a result of instilling child wellness and mindfulness in them.   “When we teach our children about nature, we teach them to nurture. And when we teach children to nurture, we as a society collectively embrace our better nature. And that’s what this work is about.” – Stephen Ritz   This Week on The Future of Agriculture Podcast: The 9-1-1 situation in Stephen’s class that lead to a 3-1-1 moment One of the significant effects of the Green Bronx Machine Project: Students you don’t expect to go through college ending up as college graduates Evolution of the program, how it has evolved today, and some of the programs offered such as after-school programming, weekend programming, and summer camps Age window of students allowed in the program How the collateral learning influence the behavior of the students How the program can change the community’s outlook on food as medicine in relation to diabetes and obesity The process that Stephen adapts especially for first-time student-growers: If they grow it, they eat it The focus of the model of the program – quality of teaching and quality of learning Metrics Stephen uses in the program concerning academics (attendance, performance, etc.) What makes the Green Bronx Machine a whole-school solution and not just any other kind of school economics program Content of Stephen’s book – his story, his children’s story, the community’s story, and tools that equip people to grow something great and impact their community Check Out Stephen Ritz Across the Net: Green Bronx Machine Website Green Bronx Machine on Facebook The Power of a Plant Book by Stephen Ritz   Share the Ag-Love! Thanks for joining us on the Future of Agriculture Podcast – your spot for valuable information, content, and interviews with industry leaders throughout the agricultural space! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, please subscribe on iTunes and leave your honest feedback. Don’t forget to share it with your friends on your favorite social media spots! Learn more about AgGrad by visiting: AgGrad Website AgGrad on Twitter AgGrad on Facebook AgGrad on LinkedIn AgGrad on Instagram  

Drew Perkins talks with the mind and personality behind the Green Bronx Machine, Stephen Ritz about his work to grow students by growing food. 

Stephen Ritz is a public school teacher in the poorest congressional district in America. Stephen was a top ten finalist in the Global Teacher Prize, "The Nobel Peace Prize of Teaching," and his work has been featured on major TV networks, TED.com and in best-selling author Michael Pollan’s newest documentary. Show notes: The unlimited potential of Las Vegas https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=3m29s “I hate being bipolar. It’s awesome" https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=4m08s Celebrating local heroes https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=4m23s How Stephen became such a good speaker https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=4m34s One thing you can do right now to be a better speaker https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=5m46s Why it wasn’t about changing the world https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=6m35s Stephen’s unbelievable energy without sleep at 6am https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=7m55s The TED effect & immigration https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=8m0s The importance of being an accessible resource https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=8m45s What Stephen has learned from being recognized https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=9m42s How to turn a problems into an opportunity https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=10m08s The magic rules https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=11m29s Why he refuses to call Green Bronx Machine a nonprofit https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=12m05s What the whole green schools movement is all about https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=13m28s Lessons from a startup founder in his 50s https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=14m23s How GBM provides students health benefits and living wages https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=15m44s How Stephen's elementary school kids are helping their parents get living wage green jobs https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=16m37s Stephen’s remarkable leadership philosophy https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=20m30s How Stephen attracted 400 applicants to a poor public school https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=21m09s Advice for the hyper-ambitious striving to be the next 30 under 30, or 40 under 40 https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=22m03s Realizing God given genetic potential regardless of zip code and skin color https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=23m32s If you wan’t to move forward you don’t spend a lot of time looking at the rear view mirror https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=24m02s Stephen and Rukesh’s personal tragedies & overcoming adversity https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=24m24s Loosing 100 lbs & personal sustainability https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/changemakersusgbc-episode-6?in=usgbc/sets/changemakers-usgbc#t=27m10s Click here for more http://bit.ly/1OHwknz

Guest Stephen Ritz, South Bronx educator featured in TEDx Manhattan, one of the top 10 finalists for the Global Teacher Prize describes the Green Bronx Machine and how growing vegetables in school changed the lives of his students in one of the poorest school districts in the countryGreen Bronx Machine

The Green Schools National Network held its annual conference in Sacramento, CA in late March 2014, and I had the chance to interview some of the leaders on the GSNN Advisory Board. On todays' episode, you'll hear from Stephen Ritz, the teacher behind the Green Bronx Machine (http://greenbronxmachine.org) who gained national notoriety after his TED talk (http://youtu.be/RF6qTlgtHU0). Michael Ferraro, CEO of Growums (http://growums.com/), was one of the conference sponsors. You'll hear from Bill Orr, Executive Director of the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (http://www.chps.net/); Jaimie Cloud, founder of the Cloud Institute (http://cloudinstitute.org/); and Rachel Gutter, Director of the U.S. Green Building Council's Center for Green Schools (http://www.centerforgreenschools.org).