A Q&A Lesson in Local Food Literacy: How can I set up a trip to a farm that has an educational component?
Posted: May 2, 2018
Categories: Good Food Ideas for Kids / GoodFoodBites / News from Sustain Ontario / Schools
As the weather starts to finally warm up, students who have been working hard in the classroom all winter are likely becoming eager for some outdoor education, which brings us to our next post in the Local Food Literacy blog series: farm trips!
Bringing students right to the farm is a fun and energizing way to directly engage young people with the production of food (and everything that comes along with it), which often leads to excitement about healthy, local food! If you’re thinking about bringing a class to a local farm, be sure to consider your options and plan ahead. Fortunately, there are some helpful resources out there…
Q: I’d like to set up a trip to a farm that has an educational component. But, like most teachers, I don’t have the funding, resources or time to go on field trips or even to start looking into this kind of thing. What are my options?
How to find the right farm to visit:
- Visit your local farmers’ market or check out their website to ask what farms take school groups.
- Does your area have a regional farm map? (e.g. Grown in Peel map; Durham Farm Fresh; Simply Local – Your Guide to Halton Farms) These can point you to local farmers’ markets, local farms, and restaurants that use local food.
- Visit the Ontario Federation of Agriculture’s website and search for “county federation sites” – this will take you to a page with a phone number that you can use to inquire about farms in your area.
- Ask your Local 4H or your local Business Development group.
- Ask your school’s co-op teachers if they have any contacts.
- Contact the Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT), a network of farmers that offer internships on their farms; they’re used to doing education.
- Get ideas from other schools! e.g. Frederick Banting Alternate Site in Ottawa visited nearby SunTech Greenhouse to observe how tomatoes are grown year-round in their 1.5 acre greenhouse.
Things to keep in mind when planning your farm trip (some farms are used to visits while others aren’t):
- Bus Drop-Off Procedure (should you back up or drive forward into the farm?)
- Accessibility Needs.
- Safety: Shelter, bathrooms,
handwashing, farm animals / loose animals, heavy machinery in use, insurance (ask the farmer for a copy of their liability insurance that’s above $2 Million). - Dress appropriately! Prepare to get dirty and remind everyone to wear layers and proper footwear.
- Are you looking for a more established educational farm or a smaller scale farm? Each has pros and cons. Some established farms are ready for groups and will have safety concerns covered. Others may not have done this before but it may be a more intimate / personalized experience.
- Is a hands-on activity included? You can’t assume that students will be able to get their hands dirty unless you ask. Be clear with what you’re looking for and be prepared to bring your own activities if needed.
- Can you provide the farmer with an honorarium? This is important if the farm doesn’t already charge for tours. It’s a big deal for them to take the time to be with you.
How to be creative in funding a trip:
- Can you access funding through Outdoor Education or related SHSM programs?
- Fill the bus with more than just your class. You can use a farm trip to do cross-curricular work with other classes.
If a farm trip is too much consider these options:
- Go to a nearby farmers’ market. Have your students meet the farmers, do a scavenger hunt, or buy fresh produce to cook in class.
- Visit a local community garden or greenhouse.
- Visit a local grocery store.
- Invite a farmer, gardener, chef, or beekeeper to speak to your class.
- Watch a farm / local food documentary film.
- Follow a farm blog. A lot of farmers blog regularly and it’s a great way for students to see what’s in season when.
- Bring the horticulture or agriculture teacher at your school into your class to speak or engage the students in activities.
Has your school planned a farm visit lately? If you have some more ideas, tips, resources, or even pictures to share, please join the #LocalFoodLiteracy conversation on Twitter!
The above content comes from the Local Food Literacy in Schools FAQ Guide, developed by Sustain Ontario, Ecosource, FoodShare and Roots to Harvest.
