Incorporating Lessons in Sustainable Agriculture from Farm Field Trips into K-8 School Gardens in Low-Income Neighborhoods

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Commodities

Practices

• Education and Training: youth education

Children 1^st has long-standing partnerships with several farms in the Wichita area.  Starting in the Spring 2024 semester, our K-8 students will visit these farms on field trips, interview the farmers, and learn sustainable farming techniques they can replicate in their school gardens.  The students will also organize a science fair to present the lessons they’ve learned to the public, and lead tours of their school garden.  Planned activities will focus on pollinators and beneficial insects, permaculture, sustainable energy, vermiculture, value-added products, and agribusiness careers.

• 100 low-income students from four K-8 Wichita schools will visit three or more local farms to learn sustainable farming practices.
• Four schools hosting C1^st Education Gardens will incorporate lessons learned (e.g. permaculture, pollinators, vermiculture) from field trips.
• One or more guest speakers will come to each C1^st school with an Education Garden and talk about sustainable agriculture and careers in agribusiness.
• Two science fairs at All Saints School.
• Ten or more nutritious recipes (e.g. salsa, smoothies, pizza) developed by students using produce from the Education Gardens to introduce the concept of Value-Added agribusiness.