Kindergarten

THE MARIN ORGANIC FARM FIELD STUDIES PROGRAM brings children and young adults from around the Bay Area to local farms. Students have the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning where they make connections between the environment, agriculture, and the food they eat. Our goal is to empower young people to make food choices that will positively impact their long-term health. Knowledge of where food comes from is a powerful tool for teaching good nutrition.

A hallmark of an Orchard education, Outdoor Education is education in, about, and for the out of doors. In an increasingly urban world, nature plays a central part in the education of the whole child. Direct experiences help students gain a deeper understanding of life around them, foster respect and an understanding of the interrelationships within the natural environment, and develop an appreciation of people's interdependence with the natural world.

The grant will provide an opportunity for parents and students in our community to plant and grow many fruits and vegetables they need to sustain a healthy lifestyle. Students will use their math and science skills to build and configure the size and shape of the garden bed , while enhancing their knowledge and gardening skills . They will learn how each garden tool is used. They will also learn about cell structure and parts a of plant.

This garden will raise awareness that even small plots of land in a densely populated area such as Somerville can be used to create community and to make the world a bit brighter and more beautiful. A city can feel impersonal, but a garden makes people stop and look. It makes people more connected to where they live and ultimately more invested in it.