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Bay Area Non-Profit Helping Build Sustainable Food Sources Through School Gardens

SAN ANSELMO (KPIX 5) -- A Bay Area non-profit aims to get people to think about where their food is grown, and spread knowledge about sustainable farming.

Global Students Embassy's founder Lucas Oshun says building that sustainable future starts with our youth.

"Just with some practical training in food production, and organization, and advocacy young people can become the agents of change," Oshun told KPIX 5.

Students like Julie Ross of San Anselmo have their eyes set on a career in sustainable farming.

"Being a part of something like this is really empowering," Ross said.

G.S.E. has gardens in over a dozen Bay Area schools, where students experiment with composting and cycling crops before sharing what they've learned with the world.

"People in Nicaragua and Ecuador that we work with are very grateful for the support that we get from our program," Oshun said.

Before Thanksgiving, students traveled to Central America to teach locals to grow their food without relying on pesticides.

"I know that in other parts of the world like Ecuador and Nicaragua, people haven't seen these as such huge problems.  They see the effects it's having, but they don't have the means to change their actions," Ross said.

By sharing their knowledge in the garden, both cultures take away important lessons.

"The attention that they pay to the projects and making them live up to their potential is amazing, and gives us the passion to continue our work up here," Oshun said.

G.S.E. wants to start gardens in more Bay Area schools.

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