Empowering youth through food literacy
(Book - Regular Print)

Thesis,MSFS,Green Mountain College,2018

Includes bibliographical references.

Becoming food literate and feeling comfortable with eating healthy foods are big steps toward reaching the goal of food security. A school farm program at Faith Baptist Christian Academy (FBCA) is the first step in connecting students with food and to support education in health, nutrition, agriculture, and local economy. Use of traditional, pallet and Hugelkulture raised beds, and ground rows and plots have created an outdoor education center that provides opportunities for agricultural and environmental education. Faithful Farm is a pilot project providing hands-on experience of planting, nurturing, harvesting, and eating food grown on school campus. This school farm program enhances classroom curriculum of core subjects such as math, science, history, and literacy. Opportunities for physical activity increase social and emotional growth and development. A school farm program presents opportunities for parent involvement. Increased interaction in growing food and learning how to feed oneself adds value to FBCA as a school, as well as present future opportunity for community collaboration. Eating healthy and increased outdoor physical activity aid in the reduction of childhood obesity and illnesses associated with poor diet. Through a business model canvas, this project identifies challenges and strengths pertaining to the physical implementation of the school garden program and integration into school academic curriculum. Use of the nine building blocks show various aspects of the school farm as viewed from a personal and business perspective. An annual review will reveal Faithful Farm as an exciting addition to the valuable education provided at Faith Baptist Christian Academy.