What’s Growing On? January 2024 News from Grow Education

by Nate Sander, Grow Education Program Manager

Winter presentations have been a part of Grow Education’s farm to School program for many years now, bringing local farmers into the classroom to discuss food production, environmental stewardship, and science. These discussions keep students engaged through the winter months while the gardens rest and introduce new ideas that will be further explored once the growing season begins.

We have been working with New Bedford filmmaker Ethan de Aguiar for the past months producing “Virtual Field Trip” films that dive into content related to food and farming and highlight some of our local producers. Screenings of the five short films and follow up lessons are underway in 23 elementary schools that Grow Education is currently working with. As the program evolves and our service area increases, these films will offer equitable access for students and teachers to meet some local growers and to learn more about our regional food and agricultural systems.

We’d like to thank all the folks that contributed to the films:

Michael Zatek, Sunny Side Apiaries
Bill Braun, Ivory Silo Farm, Westport, MA
Mary Blue, Farmacy Herbs, Providence, RI
Joshua Swaye, Round the Bend Farm, Dartmouth, MA
Pat McNiff, Pat’s Pastured, East Greenwich, RI
Geoff Kinder, Paradox Acres, Dartmouth, MA
Hannah Wylie, Goatbusters, Dartmouth, MA

Be sure to check out all of Ethan’s amazing work ethan.de.aguar 

Photos are from the first screening of “Beekeeping and Pollination” with Wareham Elementary students. A demo hive and raw honey taste test are part of a hand-on lesson that follows this screening. The hive, donated by Round the Bend Farm, helps students understand these magical and complex creatures and also honors the legacy of our late beekeeping friend Lucy Tabit who was a teacher and an inspiration to anyone who knew her.