Farm to Table @ CV Starr

CV Starr students met New York farmer Nicole Harris during a recent lunch wave in the cafeteria. Nicole runs Tiny Greens Farm, a microgreens farm in East Fishkill, about a half an hour’s drive from Brewster. The farm grows microgreens which include pea shoots, radishes, cabbage, kale, broccoli and even sunflower shoots, and Nicole brought microgreens or tiny greens–for students to taste and compare.

 

The opportunity for BCSD students to eat microgreens from a local farm comes by way of a grant: Rooted in Learning: Growing Healthy Futures with Farm to School Education. The goal of the grant is to cultivate deeper, more intentional connections between the Cafeteria, Classroom, and Community in support of farm-to-school initiatives. In the Fall, students were visited by an apple farmer from Once Munsee Orchard.

 

This grant is a partnership with Harvest NY and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County. Cornell Cooperative Extension assists schools with implementing and expanding farm-to-school programming, incorporating lessons on food systems and local agriculture.

 

Speaking to students over six lunch waves in the cafeteria, Nicole explained what microgreens are–baby vegetable plants harvested after 7-14 days, how microgreens are grown–vertical indoor farming, and why microgreens are so healthy–lots of vitamins, minerals, flavor and color, and how students can grow their own–on a windowsill with seeds, soil, sun.

 

Students got to taste the microgreens and vote on whether they liked the greens, thought the greens were just ok or did not like the greens. The results were pretty much even! 

 

“Helping young learners to become more connected to their food builds a deep awareness, not only of what they are eating but also the where, who, and why of it all,” said Brandy Keenan, 4-H educator. “Knowing where their food comes from and who grows it connects students to their community. Knowing how it grows connects students to possible careers. Knowing why they are eating it connects students to nutrition and culture. This holistic education piece supports the whole student through an enrichment program that hopefully will take “root” in their mind and hearts, driving them to be curious and connected to the world they live in and lifelong learners.”

 

In addition to the “Harvest of the Month,” where a local farmer meets students in the cafeteria, other proposed activities supported by the grant include: NY Thursday Meals, a locally-sourced meal initiative that brings farm-fresh New York State foods to schools; education through a monthly newsletter; working with school clubs; nutrition education programming in classrooms; and participation in Agricultural Literacy Week..

 

“I'm excited to share with Brewster Students the opportunity to connect the food they eat with local farms,” said Cathy Hancock, Director of Food Services for BCSD. “We are grateful to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County and Harvest NY, who procured the grant and made this possible. 

 

In the cafeteria you will find small pots of tiny green growing on the windowsill. A reminder to students of the impactful visit.