Educators: School Food & Farm to School: Mid-Region Council of Governments

Home

Agriculture

Frequently Asked Questions:

Educators

Educators: School Food & Farm to School

Go directly to: FAQ | Resources | Local Food Glossary

Frequently Asked Questions

In addition to having vegetable and flower gardens, Mountain Mahogany Charter School in Albuquerque has an educational orchard, which includes free range chickens and a greenhouse.

As an educator, why should I be interested in local food and agriculture education?

Whether you teach at the pre-school or college level, the interest in local food and agriculture related education is on the rise. Many educators are realizing that students today often do not realize where food comes from, despite it being a key part of our existence. Also, with the increase in childhood obesity and other food related diseases, many educators are interested in new approaches that teach nutrition and healthy eating habits, while linking to other subjects such as math and biology.

What are different approaches to local food and agriculture education?
There are a variety of different approaches to educating students about local food and agriculture such as:

Planting an on-site school garden
Nutrition and cooking classes, often linked to the seasonal availability of foods
Service learning at local farms, creating hands on learning opportunities for students
And curriculum on a variety of topics, such as gardening, plant life cycles, the biology of composting, and more.

How does local food and agriculture education benefit students?
A local food and agriculture curriculum can:

Provide hands on learning in a fun outside setting
Teach students about proper nutrition, helping to establish healthy eating habits and a positive relationship with food
Introduce students to fresh foods they may not have access to at home
Give students insight into food related career tracks, such as nutrition, cooking, farming, agricultural science, or food policy related jobs.
Connect students to the local agricultural landscape, people and the environment