Food, Farm, and Society

Food, Farm, and Society is a unique summer program funded through the Center for Sustainable Systems. It offers high school students academic credit along with pay for the work associated with food production.

The class meets for 20 days over the course of 4 weeks. The weeks are spread out to coincide with the work needed and the educational opportunities available as the growing season progresses.

The class meets at Montpelier High School where students access two greenhouses, numerous gardens, a chicken coop, a kitchen, library, computer lab, and tool shop. In addition, programming includes maintenance of various school gardens in Central Vermont and the maintenance of the Time Of Need Garden*. Field trips to nearby organic farms and food processing facilities augment the experience. The class is led by Tom Sabo, a certified science teacher, but also features numerous guests.

A benefit of experiential learning is that students are engaged by the relevance of addressing authentic problems created by real scenarios. For this reason there is considerable flexibility built into a syllabus for a course of this nature. This allows us to address, and take advantage of, learning opportunities as they arise.

Topics covered during Food, Farm, and Society will include, but are not limited to:

Land-use Patterns, Soil Management, Plant Physiology, Integrated Pest Management, Nutrition, Economics, and Food Security

*The "Time Of Need Garden" is a pick-your own food security garden available to members of our community. Once a week, students will harvest food that hasn't already been collected and deliver it to the kitchen at the Senior Center. Plans are underway to have students help prepare and serve the meals through a partnership with Just Basics.