The Farm to Classroom component of the Farm to Cafeteria
Program is the quintessential link that completes the perfect Farm to School circle. It ties together the garden, the farm,
the classroom and the cafeteria and provides the glue that holds the program
together. Just improving the school lunch will not a perfect program
make. The kids have to realize
what good food is and how much better for their bodies it will be for the rest
of their lives.
But, to see a beet
does not make them want to eat a beet.
That’s where the classroom comes
in. If a child has the opportunity
to plant the seed, grow the plant, harvest the beet, smell it coming out of the
ground, then peel it, cook it and paint with the red ink made from the water
the beets are cooked in, smell it again (it’s different now...it actually
smells like food, not dirt), cook it with pasta and herbs, then - the ultimate
test - taste it...now you have a kids who loves beets.
Every student from Kindergarten through 6th grade spends a
minimum of one hour a week in the Farm to Classroom project where they learn lessons
like this. They also work in our
school garden where they turn the soil, harvest fennel and all kinds of herbs,
raise popcorn, pumpkins, beans, strawberries and all kinds of lettuces, to name
a few. They rake up the fallen Fall leaves so they can be used to
cover the soil along with fava beans in the Winter so the garden’s fertile will
be protected from the cold weather and snow so it can flourish again in the
Spring. They harvest seeds and make seed packets that are sold to
raise money for the program.
They learn about grains, turn them to flours and make
breads. Chefs from the community visit the classroom and teach them about
everything from eggplants to filleting salmon. They visit our farms and milk goats, pluck warm eggs from a
nesting hen, water pigs and experience cows up close. They learn to compost, respect the Earth and its
incredible bounty and give back rather than waste.
It’s the ultimate win-win, and it’s all financially made
possible by a few small grants and our generous Island community who
understands how this is an investment in its children health that will stay
with them for the rest of their lives.
But, to see a beet
does not make them want to eat a beet.
That’s where the classroom comes
in. If a child has the opportunity
to plant the seed, grow the plant, harvest the beet, smell it coming out of the
ground, then peel it, cook it and paint with the red ink made from the water
the beets are cooked in, smell it again (it’s different now...it actually
smells like food, not dirt), cook it with pasta and herbs, then - the ultimate
test - taste it...now you have a kids who loves beets.
Every student from Kindergarten through 6th grade spends a
minimum of one hour a week in the Farm to Classroom project where they learn lessons
like this. They also work in our
school garden where they turn the soil, harvest fennel and all kinds of herbs,
raise popcorn, pumpkins, beans, strawberries and all kinds of lettuces, to name
a few. They rake up the fallen Fall leaves so they can be used to
cover the soil along with fava beans in the Winter so the garden’s fertile will
be protected from the cold weather and snow so it can flourish again in the
Spring. They harvest seeds and make seed packets that are sold to
raise money for the program.
They learn about grains, turn them to flours and make
breads. Chefs from the community visit the classroom and teach them about
everything from eggplants to filleting salmon. They visit our farms and milk goats, pluck warm eggs from a
nesting hen, water pigs and experience cows up close. They learn to compost, respect the Earth and its
incredible bounty and give back rather than waste.