Watertown expands farm-to-school program with freight farm, internships and wider composting

Elizabeth Kaplan, the K–8 math and K–5 science coordinator who leads the district's farm-to-school team, told the Watertown School Committee Monday that the district has purchased a mobile "freight farm" that will arrive in March and allow hydroponic growing for use in school cafeterias and curriculum.

The freight farm, Kaplan said, will produce fresh leafy greens for school meals and support hands-on learning: "We'll be growing a couple hundred pounds of lettuce a month," she said, adding that students at the high school will be able to take an elective tied to the freight farm and that the operation could support farm camps, internships and community sales in the future.

Kaplan described a multi-year program that already includes new school gardens at every elementary school, a district composting program (elementary kitchens and K–8 kitchens compost food scraps), and a summer garden intern program funded so far by a grant from the Metropolitan Planning Commission. The summer internship pays students a $750 stipend for a six-week program at 12 hours per week, Kaplan said: "It is a summer garden intern where they open it to middle school students. Some high school students applied and the students get paid a stipend for the summer, $750 for the summer." Judy Fallows, the district garden coordinator for 13 years, retired in December; interviews for her replacement were ongoing the week of the meeting.

Committee members asked about siting and operations. Kaplan said the freight farm will be stored temporarily behind the Phillips Building and ultimately at the high school; a team member noted the units are crane-movable. Members and staff discussed plans for how produce will be allocated: the school nutrition department intends to purchase a share for cafeterias, with portions reserved for a farmers market or the district food pantry. One presenter described a rough division of expected production: "we're kind of, like, breaking it up into thirds as to what we're gonna do with the 4,000 heads of lettuce we might get per month," though earlier Kaplan had described yields in terms of pounds, indicating planning estimates are still being finalized.

The presentation covered next steps including a pending Massachusetts Fresh grant application to support the freight farm and funding for a full-time district garden coordinator, continued expansion of composting (middle school composting starting the week of the meeting; high school to follow when it opens), and a plan to send staff to "farm camp" professional development with the Freight Farm vendor. Kaplan and committee members emphasized curriculum links and community partnerships — including sustainability staff from the city and prospective market or CSA partnerships — and confirmed intentions to keep produce in the cafeteria while using some for community programs.

The committee and presenters thanked Judy Fallows for her years of service; multiple committee members praised her contributions and community-building role in growing the district's garden and internship programs.