During the school year, under the direction of Miss Molly, farm interns help maintain the one-acre area, planting, digging, composting, and harvesting a few days a week. Interns have planted fruit trees, various seasonal fruits and vegetables, and even a native plants garden. Thanks to the farm interns, this patch of land has transformed from an empty grassy field to a place alive with beauty!
For the end of the school year, Miss Molly planned a field trip to Santa Cruz to visit two very inspirational farms. Interns had a closer look at life in agriculture...check out the photos!
After a beautiful drive down the coastline, the first stop was the Homeless Garden Project. At this farm, homeless are hired to help with farm work, giving them an opportunity to earn some money, receive job training, and have a friendly place to work and eat.
This farm had ducks roaming the grounds. Ducks are a great, natural way to keep the insects off of the crops.
Lavender is a light purple fragrant flower that can help relax anyone who smells it.
This farm had ducks roaming the grounds. Ducks are a great, natural way to keep the insects off of the crops.
Lavender is a light purple fragrant flower that can help relax anyone who smells it.
Most of the workers were harvesting lavender. Much of the lavender is dried and used for resale either in bunches or in wreaths. The interns had a chance to help harvest and they even got to take some home!
Can you guess what fruit this is?
Strawberries!! This fruit is full of Vitamin C to keep you from getting sick. These strawberries are ORGANIC, meaning that there were no harsh chemicals or pesticides used.
Farming together can build healthy bodies and healthy friendships.
Interns visiting the greenhouse, where many plants start their journey.
Frogs are kept in the greenhouse as a natural way to get rid of bugs!
After the Homeless Garden Project, interns had a healthy picnic at Natural Bridges State Beach.
Next stop: Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems at UC Santa Cruz.
This is where Miss Molly learned most of her farming techniques. To be an intern at this farm, one must be committed to the farm for 6 months.
This is where Miss Molly learned most of her farming techniques. To be an intern at this farm, one must be committed to the farm for 6 months.
Miss Leah, who used to work for HNLCP, now is a farm intern. Here she shows the interns the CSA box.
CSA stands for:
Community Supported Agriculture
CSA stands for:
Community Supported Agriculture
Since the farm harvests so many fruits and vegetables, locals in Santa Cruz can sign up and pay for a CSA box which they can pick up every week! This means that the participants are getting fresh, local, seasonal, and organic produce and they know where it comes from!
This is what was in the CSA box at that time. What could you make with those ingredients?
A few interns looking at the big field.
It wouldn't be a farm field trip without getting a little work done. Here students are plating Quinoa, a protein-packed plant that has edible seeds. Protein helps builds strong muscles! The seeds can be cooked just like rice.
These students are planting amaranth, another plant with edible seeds. You can even cook amaranth leaves!
A fresh burgundy amaranth plant in the ground.
Do you want to learn more about farming? The center is opened daily from 8-6PM, so if you happen to be in Santa Cruz, stop by for a visit!
Remember, you don't need a huge plot of land to grow your own vegetables. All you need is a few small containers, seeds, soil, water, and most important....patience!
.png)
