Agriculture Class

In Agriculture Class, we are all seed savers. We embody the role of life long learners, land stewards and community caretakers. Our job is to reflect - to learn about the history of the land that we now tend, as well as new and traditional ways to sustain it and the greater community.

We recognize the privilege we have to steward this soil, which once belonged to the Atfalati, the northernmost peoples of the Kalapuya Nation. In their honor, we tend indigenous plants from this bioregion, including salmonberry, thimbleberry, kinnikinnik, arctostaphylos, and Juncus, among others.

Seeds of Indigenous nations are tended in our garden and rematriated to their original communities. These include the Cherokee Tribe's North Georgia Candy Roaster and Trail of Tears Beans, Hopi Black Dye Sunflowers, Oaxacan Green Corn, Makah Ozette Ptatoes, and Hopi Red Dye Amaranth.

The plants and food that we grow are dedicated to these rematriation efforts, as well as cultural cooking and textile studies in the classroom. They are also meant to support our local school district and food pantry. Each year, we donate thousands of pounds of produce and grow starts for the gardeners of Neighbors Nourishing Communities, a local non-profit.

Through these vital sources of culture and connection, we engage a lens of Agroecology to empower the work of youth, women and Indigenous peoples in our food systems. In our shared space, we observe and discuss science and social justice, math and morals.

Please use the resources in our virtual classroom to study and celebrate resilient agricultural systems around the world.

See you in the soil!

Ms. Blood

director of sustainability

MITCH Charter School