Our Mission

The Delta County School District Farm To School Program works to promote healthy lifestyles with hands-on agriculture and nutrition education in the classroom and garden, create connections between classrooms, communities and local farms through field trips and summer programs, and increase access to healthy, local foods for all families.

Our Vision

We envision a world where all families have access to fresh, affordable, local foods and the knowledge to make healthy choices, a place where children understand and appreciate where their food comes from and how they can grow it on their own using environmentally friendly practices that replenish the land, and a community that works together to educate its people and support a brighter future for all.

How We Started

In January 2019, the Delta County School District was awarded a grant from The Colorado Health Foundation to implement a district-wide Comprehensive Health and Wellness Plan. As part of that plan, DCSD partnered with Mountain Roots Food Project to begin a Farm to School program. We recruited AmeriCorps members to update and build gardens at eight school sites, create a K-5th grade integrated curriculum, and implement nutrition and agriculture education throughout the district.

The Farm To School program was created to give students in Delta County equal access to fresh produce and food education. We are a team of dedicated Garden Educators who work directly with 2,500 students in our 8 partner school gardens on a monthly basis.

Who We Serve

Garnet Mesa Elementary School

Lincoln Elementary School

Hotchkiss K-8

Vision Charter Academy Delta

North Fork School of Integrated Services

Cedaredge Elementary School

North Fork Montessori @ Crawford

Paonia K-8

What We Do

The Farm to School program is continuously growing and changing to support the students and community members of Delta County. Here is a look at what we do:

Grow and maintain gardens at all elementary schools in Delta County;
Provide education and hands-on agriculture, nutrition, conservation and overall wellness lessons to students;
Facilitate FREE garden clubs for students interested in growing and selling produce;
Host day camps during the summer with themed lessons and fun outdoor activities;
Engage with our community through volunteer opportunities, garden work days and summer programming.