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1. 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.

2. 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:

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

3. How does local food and agriculture education benefit students?

A local food and agriculture curriculum can:

• Connect students to the local agricultural landscape, people and the environment
• Give students insight into food related career tracks, such as: 
  • Agricultural science
  • Cooking
  • Farming
  • Food policy related jobs
  • Nutrition
• Introduce students to fresh foods they may not have access to at home
• 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

4. What resources are available to me?

The Agriculture Collaborative hosts monthly meetings on a variety of topics, many of which are of interest to crop and livestock producers. Sign up today for our e-newsletter and learn about upcoming meetings and workshops or view our past meeting topics online. Our local food blog and our events calendar can help keep you up to date on what is happening locally and nationally with local foods and agriculture. Be sure to also see the school food and farm-to-school resource listing.