Community Partnerships
Our education programs lead us out in to the community quite often. Here are some of the things we have up to lately.
Farm to School
Cat and Lauren have been to Thetford Elementary School a few times already this Spring to plant seeds in the classroom and to help students learn more about the senses, soil, and pollinators. We’ll be hosting two community work days at the school from 3:30 - 5:30 on Tuesday, May 21 and Tuesday, May 28 to get the gardens ready for planting. Everyone is welcome! It’s a great opportunity for learning new gardening skills. If you’d like to join in, contact Cat. The students from Kindergarten, First, and Second Grade will come for the annual Spring field trip to the farm in 2 weeks.
Community Gardens
Community Gardens are gearing up for planting! Cat is a member of the Thetford Community Garden Committee, and an advisor to the White River Community Garden at Ratcliff Park in White River Junction. Both gardens host a Learning Plot wherein food is grown for the local food shelf, and free gardening classes are offered to the community. You do not need to be a member to join in on the classes. Cat will teach one free class at the White River Community Garden in August of this year. Learn more about community gardens.
Workplace CSA and Market at the Hospital
We’ve been branching out and creating new partnerships in the community by offering a Workplace CSA delivery program. This year, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), River Valley Club, TARM, and Hypertherm are among our workplace partners. Check out the video below made by DHMC featuring Megan and Natalie at the increasingly popular Fresh Friday Market that DHMC provides for its staff and patients as a part of their Live Well/Work Well program. Learn more about our CSA program.
Upper Valley Farm To School (UVFTS)
UVFTS helps schools jumpstart or improve their farm to school programs by initiating workshops and professional development opportunities. In April Cat presented at the UVFTS workshop on Guided Farm Tours down at Cobb Hill in Hartland, and in May she and Joette, the school nurse, led the presentation at Thetford Elementary for the UVFTS School Compost Tour. To complete their Food Loop, the school has an onsite 5 bin composting system which is managed by the 5th grade students.
The Upper Valley Apple Corp
There is a new orchard coming to town and it could be in your yard too! The Upper Valley Apple Corp is a group of people that are cooperating to purchase, host, plant, and care for food bearing trees in our neighborhoods. The produce will be free for the picking by everyone. The goal is to find and organize all the resources needed to plant and care for 250 trees by summer of 2015. You can learn more about them on their website, or meet the crew by joining in the Planting Festival on May 18.
