Progress report for YENC25-237
Project Information
Students will learn about sustainable agriculture through working in their garden, participating in community-based experiences, and classroom instruction. Guided by Ohio’s Agriculture and Environmental Systems standards, students will learn about sustainable practices including composting, crop rotation, cover cropping, and season extension. They will utilize additional educational materials from SARE and university extension programs. Students will travel to farms and business to learn about careers in agriculture and related fields. Students will make a positive impact on their community by donating at least 60% of what they grow to people in need while covering future operating expenses through a student-run CSA.
- Provide students with opportunities to learn about sustainable agriculture in school and community settings and apply those principles to the design of the new learning garden site.
- Increase the amount of food grown annually that is donated to students and community members.
- Expand the variety of food grown to reflect the increasingly diverse makeup of our community which will highlight the over 25 countries represented in the student body of Cuyahoga Falls City Schools
- Provide quarterly opportunities for students to share their knowledge and project in various ways.
- Establish a student-run CSA that will cover operating expenses of the program.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation summary:
Tours
Since receiving funds for our Youth Educator Grant, we have been able to host approximately 100 students for on-site tours of our program. During these tours, students from 5th-12th grade have been able to learn about how we grow a variety of vegetables for donation as well as sale through our student-run CSA. During these tours, guests get to visit our hydroponics and mushroom lab, greenhouse, laying hen operation, compost program, and garden. In addition to the tour, hands-on activities regularly take place including make and take microgreen plantings, taste-testing, and a quiz game based on what they have learned throughout the tour. While the primary goal of these tours is to teach people about sustainable, urban agriculture; we also use it as an opportunity to promote our program with the hopes of new students signing up to join our agriculture classes.
Newsletter
A seasonal newsletter is shared with our district as well as the 200+ people on our email list. There have been two newsletters sent out since receiving grant funds. These newsletters highlight what students across our district are doing with regards to learning gardens and urban agriculture.
Presentations
Our students have presented to approximately 180 students at our middle school this year. The first presentation focussed on a general overview of our program as well as some market research for hot sauce we have been making. The second presentation was about the health benefits that are associated with eating and growing your own vegetables.
Tabling Events
Students participated in 2 wellness events. One was for the city of Cuyahoga Falls and the other was for Tallmadge High School. Again, the students shared the overview of the program with guests as well as the health benefits achieved from eating and growing your own vegetables.
- Host webinar or in-person workshop
- Series of short videos and/or social media posts
- Other
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge-sustainable agriculture practices, business management, livestock care
Skills-an improvement of communication skills are reported by many students as a result of completing presentations throughout the year as well as through participation in a our various outreach opportunities.
Attitude-students have reported that they often feel calmer and happier after working in the garden or other lab placement through our program. They enjoy working with others and feel pride when a project gets completed.
We have the privilege of teaching about 100 students each year through our agriculture classes. Throughout the year, we asked them to reflect on what they have learned, what they have enjoyed, and what they think we can do to improve our program. Students have demonstrated a strong understanding of sustainable agriculture practices. By utilizing IPM, cover crops, season extension, and native plants, etc. students have first-hand experience with sustainable agriculture practices that benefit our environment and our economic viability.
Throughout the year, students get to work in groups throughout the various parts of our operation. Each time a student changes a rotation, their group changes as well. This has taught students the importance of collaboration and communication in order to meet a goal. This is often something that students are less than thrilled about if they liked their previous group. However, students have reported that by getting opportunities to work with different people, they have improved their social skills and have gained new perspectives.
We have a number of students who have been minimally involved in the greater school culture before joining our program. Many students have reported that our program has become a "home" for them and a place where they feel they belong. They also have reported the positive feelings they receive when donating or selling produce that they have grown which is then enjoyed by members of their community.
The curricula we have used is created by us and is based on Ohio's Agriculture and Environmental Systems Standards. We often utilize resources from university extension offices, SARE, and recommended readings from our farming partners and others in the agriculture field.
The most significant strength with regards to creating our own curriculum is that we can tailor it to our students and our program. Of course, this takes a significant amount of time (although we think it is worth it).
Project Outcomes
Parents have begun utilizing our compost program. Parents of our students collect compost at home in buckets which are then dropped off when full. Our students weigh the contents and add it to our pile. The parents then receive a cleaned bucket that day to keep the cycling moving.
A potential student should sign up for this class because it is engaging and not only teaches you about agriculture, but also teaches valuable life lessons that will help you thrive as an adult.
Our program is a family of people who all want to better the world and help each other, full of love and support.
Historically, I have not been a confident public speaker and leader, but this class has given me countless opportunities to grow in this regard. From class presentations, to FFA elections, to mock interviews, I am so grateful for the experiences I have received, throughout each of which the class and teachers have been encouraging and supportive.
My favorite part of the class is getting the opportunity to work with my friends while providing food for people in our community.
My favorite parts of this class have been the field trips and amazing opportunities and experiences we have been presented with. It has been so incredible to see and meet so many cool people in the field of Agriculture, visit their operations, and see how they fit into our food system and world. My teachers make sure to give us as many opportunities to intern at or visit super interesting places, and maybe even get actual jobs. I got to work over the summer at an amazing internship with Let's Grow Akron and Abundant Life Farms that I would never have even known existed if not for my teachers and this class. -
Right now, I don't have any suggestions or recommendations. Everything has gone very smoothly so far and the support and communication I have received from Liz has been awesome!