Phoenix Youth Plant and Harvest Seeds of Change
Homeschoolers receive Junior Master Gardener certification at SVdP urban farm
By Esther Martinez
Almost one year ago, Asiyah, homeschooling mother of four, took her children on a field trip to visit St. Vincent de Paul’s (SVdP) Urban Farm located next to the downtown Phoenix dining room. What she didn’t anticipate was how this small plot of land that grows food to feed those in need would greatly impact the lives of her children. After speaking with the farm’s manager, Chanika Forte, Asiyah asked if she could bring her children, ranging in ages from 9 to 14, to the farm as a part of their science program for school.
- Composting – how to compost, the importance of it, and how you can encourage your friends and families to recycle and reduce waste
- Soil building – how to build soil with compost, soil content and determining good soil versus bad soil
- Food miles – learning about the distance it takes for food to travel from the farm to your plate and how you can reduce food miles to get more nutrition from food
- Healthy eating – learning how to choose and eat healthy food options
- Watering – water scheduling and the importance of watering in a farm or garden