Orchard Valley Waldorf School

We have both short- and long-term goals for our garden: First, our garden is for children and teachers to share the connections of the growing cycle, seasons, the food we eat, and our connection to the landscape through wise stewardship. The long-term goal is to use the school garden education program as the core of an evolving farm education program for students, families and the community at large towards sustainable biodynamic agriculture and holistic land management.

Currently our second and third grade students are active in the garden, learning all aspects of planting, tending, harvesting, and culminating in a harvest supper. Our youngest students prepare healthy snacks, learn to bake bread and soups, but have less of a role in the garden. This grant will begin a process that provides teachers with more support in the garden, on field trips to farms and food production facilities so we can include more students in all the grades and better integrate learning across the curriculum. This support will assure that food travels from the garden to the kitchen and children