Home Schoolers Visit the Farm

One of the greatest joys of my job is being able to share it with future generations. We love hosting farm tours with local schools. This one in particular was a collective homeschool co-op. One of the most important factors of sustainable agriculture is sharing those practices with our future farmers. In a world where most kids think their food comes from a grocery store, it’s a joy to be able to show them the work it takes to feed a family. I love seeing the kids' faces when they see how one tiny seed can grow into a big head of lettuce. They realize the salad they eat for dinner doesn't just come from a bag but was planted and cared for by a farmer.

Tours are not only for the kids—they're for the parents too! People are always amazed when they step into the greenhouse. Set against a white backdrop, bright displays of green and red cover vertical towers, creating an environment that is truly like nothing you have seen before. As we walk through the greenhouse, we explain the whole process from seeding and planting to harvest day.

Kids have an opportunity to water seeds and transfer ready plants to our hydroponic systems. We like to make hard work fun for the kids. It’s an experience that teaches them the importance of the hard work it takes to feed our community. The best reward of hard work is the end result. At the end, kids get a chance to taste different varieties of lettuce. That is always a funny moment because most kids only know the taste of lettuce covered in ranch.

After touring the greenhouse, we take a quick stop at the outside garden. Here we grow all of our delicious vegetables. Children get to see that as long as seeds have the right food, sun and water, they can grow in anything. During the summer, we have tomatoes, okra, peppers, squash, carrots and many other garden vegetables. We get to teach kids about sustainable practices that will determine the future of their generation and the ones to come.

As always, a farm tour with kids is never complete without a good, old-fashioned gummy worm dirt cup! If you and your school would like to schedule a tour, give us a call!