Organic Farm to Summer Camp Table: Opportunities for Youth on an Organic Farm

Project Overview

YENC12-053
Project Type: Youth Educator
Funds awarded in 2012: $2,000.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2013
Region: North Central
State: Missouri
Project Manager:
Rachel Levi
Email
EarthDance

Annual Reports

Information Products

Commodities

Not commodity specific

Practices

  • Education and Training: youth education
  • Production Systems: organic agriculture

    Proposal abstract:

    Camp EarthDance, now in its second year, is EarthDance’s summer camp for middle school students. EarthDance is a non-profit educational farm that, while not certified organic, grows food in a sustainable, chemical-free manner. For two week-long sessions in June, 15 students from nearby Ferguson Middle School are going to participate in sustainable farming-themed activities and games at EarthDance’s farm.  Topics for exploration include an introduction to sustainable vs. conventional farming, farm as ecosystem, healthy soils, plant life cycles, and farmers markets.  Campers will also engage in traditional farm tasks, such as direct seeding, transplanting starts, mulching, weeding with hula hoes, and harvesting. Additionally, campers will learn to relate healthy agricultural practices to healthy eating habits, as they use farm produce to prepare plant-based, kid-friendly meals.

     

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.