Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project announced St. James School for Little Folks as one of the first “Growing Minds” Schools.
Growing Minds preschools and schools incorporate farm to school activities into the curriculum and culture of their school. They grow edible gardens, connect with local farmers through farm field trips and farmer visits to the classroom, host local food cooking classes, and serve local food in the cafeteria or lunch room.
Growing Minds Schools also make a commitment to continuing and strengthening their farm to school efforts in future years. The idea of the program is that connecting children to their source of their food will improve attitudes and behaviors toward healthy food.
“We have a community garden. Each class chooses a vegetable to plant, water, and weed,” said Denise Purcell, Executive Director at St. James Episcopal School for Little Folks. “We taste test, compare likes and dislikes, and participate in making stone soup together when the harvest comes in.”
The benefits of being a Growing Minds School include a certificate, discounts, publicity and priority consideration for Growing Minds Farm to School Funding.