While growing a variety of organic vegetables for our farm Community Supported Agriculture program and farm-to-school vegetable sales these past two years, we’ve also been growing a thriving farm education program! Over a thousand students, preschoolers, elementary classes, youth groups, GATE groups, and college students, have visited the farm for hands-on learning experiences. Visiting youth engage their bodies, senses, and minds while exploring farm eco-systems, plant biology, soil science, organic farming practices, global and local food systems and economies. Students always harvest seasonal vegetables, prepare and eat the “fruits” of their labor together on the farm-from a simple carrot snack to kale smoothies to whole farm-based shared student dinners in the back yard of the farm house! These experiences allow students to root themselves in land and relish the wonder of life on the farm and joys of working with earth! Our farm education provides a space for youth transformation. Students leave with experiences and memories that change the way they see and relate to land, food production, and positively impact their own food choices!
Here are descrptions of our farm to school programs:
Farm Field trips
We love the excitement of school buses rolling down the driveway carrying up to 90 students at a time for these 2 hour fieldtrips!
Overnight Farm-Stays
-Youth set up tents in the backyard for an overnight experience on the farm. They bring their own mess kits and use a bio-degradable wash station in the backyard to minimize waste!
-They participate in an exciting farm scavenger hunt to learn and explore the history of the farm and introduce farming and food system concepts in the field.
- Students harvest for meals and learn cooking skills while preparing their own meals using farm developed recipes. Students take home their own farm recipe packet with recipes they prepared on the farm.
-Students have a chance to raise their own questions and hear the stories of Join the Farm! farm workers during a Join the Farm/Abundant Table Q&A Time
-Sundown fun! Flash light hide-and-go-seek in the avocado orchard, s’more making and Chumash story telling around the campfire
-Students help plant, weed, and harvest with the farmers in the field
Rooted Futures
