The Power of a Plant: A Teacher's Odyssey to Grow Healthy Minds and Schools

by Stephen Ritz

In The Power of a Plant, globally acclaimed teacher and self-proclaimed CEO (Chief Eternal Optimist) Stephen Ritz shows you 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. What if we taught students that they have as much potential as a seed? That in the right conditions, they can grow into something great? These are the questions that Stephen Ritz―who became a teacher more than 30 years ago―sought to answer in 2004 in a South Bronx high school plagued by rampant crime and a dismal graduation rate. After what can only be defined as a cosmic experience when a flower broke up a fight in his classroom, he saw a way to start tackling his school’s problems: plants. He flipped his curriculum to integrate gardening as an entry point for all learning and inadvertently created an international phenomenon. As Ritz likes to say, “Fifty thousand pounds of vegetables later, my favorite crop is organically grown citizens who are growing and eating themselves into good health and amazing opportunities.” The Power of a Plant tells the story of a green teacher from the Bronx who let one idea germinate into a movement and changed his students’ lives by learning alongside them. Since greening his curriculum, Ritz has seen near-perfect attendance and graduation rates, dramatically increased passing rates on state exams, and behavioral incidents slashed in half. In the poorest congressional district in America, he has helped create 2,200 local jobs and built farms and gardens while changing landscapes and mindsets for residents, students, and colleagues. Along the way, Ritz lost more than 100 pounds by eating the food that he and his students grow in school. The Power of a Plant is his story of hope, resilience, regeneration, and optimism.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Gardening, Memoir, Food, Science

304 pages, Hardcover

Published May 2, 2017

Reviews

[Jennifer Hutchins · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read ! It really explored the importance of project based Learning and student interest.

[Nadine Feldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are feeling hopeless about the world, read this book. If you love gardening and fresh food, read this book. If you care about students getting an education that prepares them for the world, read this book. If you admire great teachers, read this book.

Stephen Ritz always brought imagination and innovation to his South Bronx classrooms. But a chance incident where daffodils broke up a fight in his classroom changed the trajectory of his teaching career forever. He and his students are not only eating better, but helping to solve food insecurity issues in an area that desperately needs it.

I could hardly sleep while reading this book. Soon we will be moving to the NYC area, and I hope to get involved in organizations such as this. In a time of rampant cynicism, Ritz will give you hope.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a retired teacher who tried to get a gardening program started in my school, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Steven is a true inspiration to all, and his credentials speak for him. Through hard work he was able to get this project going in an area that desperately needed “real” food, paving the way for others to follow. I hope many follow his example and get our kids and communities eating and learning about the beautiful joy of gardening, growing and eating your own food. Much continued success to him and to all that follow his incredible example!

[Marc Buckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, what an amazing man! The work he is doing to educate kids in New York, South Bronx is extraordinary. Stephen uses food plants - Green Bronx Machine - to transform kids and their school environments. It all starts with food. He is indeed a Super Hero and such an interesting person. I was very happy to have him as a guest on Inside Ideas:https://youtu.be/EbxNZmrk8fE

Or check out the links below:

https://www.innovatorsmag.com/recipes...
https://www.innovatorsmag.com/inside-...
https://medium.com/inside-ideas/steph...

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a teacher but a fairly cynical one; this book had me in tears so many times. I feel so inspired having seen the amazing things Stephen Ritz has done with perseverance, creativity, and hope. He comes across as so humble despite all the praise and accolades he has received and so clearly does all this because he's passionate about helping children. I'm already cooking up ideas about how I can bring the same spirit to my school!

[Selina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen is a teacher in the Bronx and shares his journey of teaching some of the most disdvantaged special ed students in some of the poorest schools. One day a fight was breaking out in his class as per usual and the kids were going to throw anything, but came across some daffodil flowers instead. The bulbs had been sitting under stephens desk and hes forgotten about them, he thought they were onions, and hid them away so the students couldnt use them as missiles

Well what surprised him was the kids LOVED the flowers and suddenly the environment changed when they realised there were flowers growing in their classroom. So one thing led to another, he took them on a field trip to plant them in the local park, them got them involved in a project to beautify the park, and realised this was a teachable moment that could be harnessed...the kids loved being outside and learning about growing plants so he got them invloved in more projects and started to transform his class and eventually entire schools with hydroponic indoor gardens where everyone learned how to grow food and cook. Wow, amazing story, absolutely inspirational.

Look up Green Bronx Machine to see how he transformed his students, classes, and entire community with the power of a plant.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely a go teacher book. Ritz's commitment to his kids and his cause are 'epic'. I really enjoyed his honesty about early mistakes and missteps teaching. I also sympathized with the struggles he had with administrators. It's encouraging to know that we can move past those things to become truly inspiring teachers. I also adored the seemingly lost concept of teaching cool things first and foremost, with standards getting met as a result of quality, meaningful instruction. And as a former inner city school teacher (Houston), food desserts and food inequality are real. My kids lived off taquis.

[Rich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written page turner. Great book for educators on to how to handle and inspire students.

Spoiler alert for Conservatives and Libertarians: book has a "progressive " slant to it. You'll meet Van Jones in this book along with high praise for the Obamas. If you get get past this, you'll really enjoy this book!

[Riegs · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Teach children how to care for a living thing and you've given them something a textbook can provide" (56).

As educators, we should all strive to provide more practical, genuine learning experiences like this. Great content, but a different package/printing for this book would've elevated it. Primarily, full color pictures.

[Kaylee Schmelzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

100% Inspiring. It gave me a chance to go back and remember what my imagination was like when I first decided to teach. A little braggy (which is fair, given his success), and also I kept waiting for advice or "here's where to get started" and there really was none. Guess he wants readers to start where it makes sense for them.

[Yaira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen Ritz became my hero in the time it took me to finish this book: one day.
Do yourself a favor, just read the first chapter. That is all it will take for you to be whipped up into a helping-the-world frenzy!
#sustainablegangster

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, brave and inspiring- makes me want to get out there and do something good for the world.

We need more people like Mr Ritz in the world.

[Vinod Narayan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Book
Here is my review
https://penpositive.com/2017/10/10/th...

[Emily Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone who seeks reform in our education or food system... or for anyone who eats on a regular basis. Ritz is the best of the best and we need more of him.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen Ritz is a treasure and an inspiration! Thank you for everything that you do to improve our world and to open up opportunities for kids!

[Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly inspirational

[Erica Gutierrez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, enjoyed the content, but dragged on a bit towards the end.

[Tamar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading for anyone involved in children's education and urban gardening.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

[Todd Freer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great illustration of what passion can do. Innovative and problem solving based, student outcome oriented.

[Brooke Gilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I had the privilege of seeing the author speak in person. Such passion.

[Rosanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspiring for everyone who is a teacher or cares about future generations. Read this book!