Students learn outdoors in Farm to School learning program

Students at James N.

Gamble Montessori High School are making the shift from the classroom to outdoor learning through agricultural sciences.

NEW THIS MORNINGTHE COVID-19PANDEMIC HASN'T BEEN ALL BADFOR SOME TRI-STATE STUDENTSAND TEACHERS.

AT ONECINCINNATI PUBLIC SCHOOL...STUDENTS ARE SUCCESSFULLYMAKING THE SHIFT FROM THECLASSROOM TO OUTDOOR LEARNINGTHROUGH AGRICULTURALSCIENCES.WCPO 9 NEWS ANCHORTIMYKA ARTIST IS LIVE WITH THEGROWING POPULARITY OF THEFARM-TO-SCHOOL PROGRAM.STUDENTS HERE AT JAMES N.GAMBLE MONTESSORI HAVEN'RETURNED TO THE CLASSROOM JUSTYET...BUT BEHIND THE SCENES ..IN FACT RIGHT BEHIND THISBUILDING ... SEEDS OF ADIFFERENT KIND OF LEARNING AREBEING PLANTED EVEN IN THEMIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.So we have arugula and somemustard greens.GROWING BYLEAPS AND BOUNDS ... THISGARDEN AT JAMES N.

GAMBLEMONTESSORI.Then we also have someasparagus rhubarb.

THESEPHOTOS TAKEN LAST SCHOOL YEARAND LONG BEFORE COVID-19RESTRICTIONS SHOW SEVENTHTHROUGH 12TH GRADERS LEARNINGTHE WAYS OF FARMING IN THEMIDDLE OF THE CITY..

..PLANTING, HARVESTING AND LATERCONSUMING.GambleMontessoriI think of it as asocial justice issue asstudents really need to knowwhat they are eating, wherefood comes from and how theycan contribute to asustainable futureAGRICULTURE TEACHER MARYDUDLEY RUNS THE SCHOOL'S FOODSCIENCES PROGRAM ..

AND THISYEAR HAS HER LARGEST CLASSEVER.

... 111 STUDENTS HAVEENROLLED.BUT EVEN BEFOREVIRTUAL AND OUTDOOR LEARNINGBECAME THE STANDARD...PRINCIPAL TAYLOR PORTER SAYSGAMBLE MONTESSORI WAS WELLAHEAD OF THE GAME WITH APROGRAM IN FULLBLOOM.We've already been runningoutdoor classrooms, nurseriesand gardens, and a lot of thefarm skills that people areinterested in right now that'salready embedded in theculture of ourschools.That love of learningthe outdoors and seeing theoutdoors is not only a placeof relaxation but a place ofexploration.

THESE STARTERKITS WILL ALLOW STUDENTS TOGROW BEANS FROM HOME...NOCLASS TIME REQUIRED.

THEDIRECTOR OF THE GREATERCINCINNATI REGIONAL FOODPOLICY COUNCIL SAYS LESSONSABOUT HEALTHY EATING HABITSARE BEST SERVED WHEN KIDS AREYOUNG.If 10% of our regionalpopulation shifted about 10%of their food budget topurchasing local it translatesto a $66 million investment inour local economy.

AND THAT,SHE SAYS, IS A WIN-WIN -- NOTONLY FOR THE FARMING COMMUNITY... BUT FOR STUDENTS WHO SCOREHIGHER ON STANDARDIZED TESTSWHEN ENROLLED IN FARM-TO-SCHOOL PROGRAMS LIKE THESE.I think it's really importantto continually educate themabout healthy food choices.Then if they have theopportunity to grow their ownyou can't get much better andfresher than that.GREEN UMBRELLA IS HOSTING AVIRTUAL WORKSHOP TOMORROWSaturday sept 19 TO SHOWEDUCATORS HOW TO BRING FARM-TO-SCHOOL PROGRAMS TO THEIRCLASSROOMS. FOR INFORMATION ..CHECK OUT MY TWITTER ANDFACEBOOK ACCOUNTS.