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School describes hands-on horticulture program with nearly 1-acre garden and produce stand
Summary
Presenters described a school horticulture program that teaches strawberry and vegetable production, offers individual gardens for middle-school students, supports FFA and SAE projects, and runs a produce stand with regular customers.
Presenters at a school meeting described a hands-on horticulture program that teaches strawberry and vegetable production and gives students experience from planting to sale.
The program “gives kids the opportunity to not only learn in the classroom, but also in a practical way out in the field,” Staff member 1 (Staff member) said. The presenters said the curriculum covers strawberry and vegetable production, animal sciences, soil sciences, leadership skills and the Future Farmers of America (FFA).
The program operates an almost 1-acre area of row crops plus raised beds and individual gardens for 7th- and 8th-graders, according to Staff member 3 (Staff member). “All of our 7th and 8th graders have individual gardens, and we have a school garden that's what we use for our produce stand,” Staff member 3 said. Students learn planting depth, seed identification, harvesting, and presentation for market.
Staff member 2 (Staff member) described how about half of the field produces vegetables sold to consumers, allowing students to see “the very start to the very end and when it goes out the gates and to be sold, to customers that come along.” Presenters said regular customers visit the produce stand every Friday. Crops mentioned include greens, strawberries, onions, cabbage and lettuce.
The presenters also said the program supports student projects through FFA and supervised agricultural experience (SAE) projects for both animals and plants. Staff member 1 said the program offers contests through FFA and assists students with SAE projects.
Presenters identified two main feeder schools as Strawberry Crest and Plant City, and said those schools also have horticulture programs that help prepare students to move into the high school program. “We have a lot of transfer to our high school programs,” Staff member 2 said. Presenters said they hope students eventually find employment in the agriculture industry.
Presenters discussed animals on site that are used to consume produce items students do not take home, and flowers grown in the garden. Beyond crop production and animal care, presenters emphasized leadership and customer-service skills learned through the program.
The presentation focused on program structure and student learning; no formal actions or votes were recorded on the transcript.
