The is a nonprofit in Rutland that鈥檚 been working to harness the economic potential of local agriculture.
The group created Rutland鈥檚 indoor farmer鈥檚 market and has put teens to work on area farms.
Now they鈥檙e focused on using farming as a teaching tool. They hope a new greenhouse and a chance to grow plants will help school kids learn about nutrition, science, and themselves.
Melinda Hardt is the nonprofit鈥檚 education coordinator. She stood inside the group鈥檚 new, 4,300 square foot greenhouse 鈥� her classroom. 鈥淲e have this space over here," she said, pointing to several tables and chairs, "where the kids can write in their journal and where we have circle time at the beginning and end of each workshop. And then the beds are set up so that the kids can really get low to the ground, the kids can really get into the dirt and the kids can really garden at their level.鈥�
Behind her were row after row of raised beds, 13 in all, waiting for plants.
On a recent Monday afternoon, 16 Rutland City fourth graders, armed with garden gloves and trowels, were busy breaking up dirt in those beds, spreading top soil and joking about cow manure and whether there might be any horse poop in the dirt.
This program runs seven weeks. It started back in March when the kids were each given a tiny tomato seed to plant and name. They'll take the plants home when the course is over.
The group met for an hour, three Mondays in a row. Then they took three weeks off.
This was session four. Their tomato plants were sprouting - progress that the kids detailed in their greenhouse journals.
They gathered around tables to work together on the week鈥檚 experiment, which had to do with assessing how varying amounts of sunlight and water had affected spinach seeds they planted back in March.
Teacher Nicole Joyce said around age 9 or 10, kids start to realize it鈥檚 not just about them anymore, that they鈥檙e part of a community. So developmentally, she said this type of program is ideal for her students. "I also think it also empowers them, so that at this age, they can say, 鈥業 can plant a garden and it will grow, all by myself.鈥欌��
She thinks it鈥檚 also very important for kids to understand where their food comes from.
"It's Vermont's version of swimming with the dolphins! Playing in the dirt, watching plants grow and being part of that cycle." - Greg Cox, Executive Director of the Vermont Farmers Food Center
Greg Cox, executive director of the Vermont Farmers Food Center and a farmer, agreed. "It's part of our economy and it鈥檚 nutrition. And we said, 'You know what?' We can play a vital role in educating our kids and bring it to them in a really meaningful way,鈥� he said.
He walked over to one of the raised beds where kids were preparing the dirt for strawberry plants. 鈥淭hey get to grow them, to understand that we鈥檙e similar. We all breathe, we all get hot, we drink, we grow.鈥� Added Cox, laughing, 鈥淚t鈥檚 Vermont鈥檚 version of swimming with the dolphins! Playing in the dirt, watching plants grow and being part of that cycle.鈥�
He and Joyce said this type of program is also good for kids who鈥檝e experienced trauma, something that鈥檚 becoming a bigger issue in schools.
鈥淲hen you are responsible for another living thing you realize you are not alone," said Cox. "Empathy is something you really need to develop in people. When you come in and see a plant that鈥檚 wilted because it doesn鈥檛 have water and you water it and you see it come back and stand up straight, that鈥檚 empowering. People need that."
There are currently 120 Rutland city fourth graders taking part in the program. Cox says other nearby schools have expressed interest.
He says programs for home schoolers, preschoolers and day care centers are also in the works.
