EAT South's farms offer educational workshops and field trips for schools and community groups. We teach such topics as sustainable food production, nutrition and healthy living at both farms and in the community. We also provide education through a Speakers Series that brings the brightest minds to our communities to share examples of healthy lifestyles.
EAT South has cultivated a variety of Educational Programs:
Sustainable Food Systems in collaboration with the Montessori School at Hampstead
This collaborative program provides three classes at the Montessori School a weekly hands-on experiential education. Students walk across Hampstead's town square to Hampstead Farms and learn about sustainable farming and food systems. The toddlers have a first-hand experience with their food by touching and tasting food on the farm. The pre-k students begin scientific exploration of the farm and the elementary students conduct hands-on science research on the farm. All the programs focus on bridging the gap between our children and eating healthy fresh food. Follow the daily blog at www.montessorifarmers.blogspot.com
Seed 2 Plate is a comprehensive food education field trip program taught at the Downtown Farm. A children’s garden will be completed in 2013 to provide the perfect platform for connecting children from all over Alabama with healthy fresh food. Students explore the farm and help harvest fresh produce. The students then help prepare that food into a healthy snack or lunch on the farm. Finally, students learn why eating fresh, healthy seasonal food is so important for productive life.
Farm to School is a movement sweeping the country, encouraging schools to feature healthy, locally sourced, fresh food in their cafeterias, and teaching the importance of healthy food in the classroom, in the cafeteria, and in kids’ diets. EAT South is developing programs specifically for the Montgomery Public School System to assist in improving the food served to students and helping connect local farms to the schools.