incorporate field trips to the farm into their curriculum and deepen learning on topics like plant biology, nutrition, food science, engineering, and environmental science. It’s a special way for staff to connect with students as well, which is one of their favorite parts of running the farm. Many school food service programs have robust soil gardens, and an indoor farm provides a perfect complement to extend the growing season. Our partners in Wisconsin’s Holmen School District have been growing outside and in greenhouses since 2009. They even have an apple orchard – how cool is that? The district recently expanded its program with an indoor farm to produce salad greens and other crops for school lunches. Best of all, some of the units are being managed by high schoolers in the agriculture program. These students will now round out their farming education with hydroponics, expanding their skill sets and broadening their appreciation for different farming methods. Read On
set their food service program apart. The program branded its salad mix using the name of the original building where the farm was housed to connect the greens to the students’ pride in district heritage. Staff also used their Flex Farms to grow uncommon items like bok choy, which was integrated into a special Asian-themed menu.
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Once the greens were put on the middle and high school menus, program staff observed a sizable increase in vegetable consumption with more interest in the salad bar and other specialty items that incorporated the produce. Menasha’s food service department also partners with district teachers to educate and engage kids. Regularly, food service program staff provide tours of the farm for students to see the large-scale farming operation up close. Teachers can
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