What’s Growing On? March 2021 News from Grow Education

by Adam Davenport, Grow Education Program Manager

For Grow Education and our New Bedford Public School students, March has been filled with Winter Presentations.  This year our presentations focused on two important topics that will lay the groundwork for our youth to be knowledgeable food consumers!

First in defining a local food system and overviewing its parts, we prepped students to then watch a virtual interview and tour by the staff at Coastal Foodshed.  We learned about their regional work of ‘getting people good, local food’!  This was followed by an engaging conversation with Bill Braun at Ivory Silo Farm, where we learned about seed saving, and were able to watch him process sunflower and cilantro seeds with the home-made machines he uses to thresh and winnow!

These topics were shared with third graders at a level they could understand.  After putting together these winter presentations there were two points that stood out to the Grow Education staff; first, how many innovative organizations are doing important work in our region, and second, what an amazing opportunity it is for 3^rd-graders to be learning this content! 

The Marion Institute is excited to announce that we’ll be hiring three new FoodCorps members to our Grow Education team!  Applications are open now and due in early April.  These will be full time positions with a stipend and benefits for 11 and 1/2 months beginning in July 2021.  FoodCorps members will be working with classrooms at several elementary schools, planting gardens, teaching about healthy foods, and engaging students in the cafeteria.  We are seeking individuals passionate about health and supporting youth development!  Learn more here, and please spread the word.