Annual 1st Grade Farm Stand
In 1st grade food is a recurring theme as students learn about the different wants and needs that keep communities thriving. After learning about food insecurity, students explore where food comes from, including the noble work and plight of migrant farm workers Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and Larry Itliong.
Students learn about injustices faced by migrant farm workers, including Rachel Carson’s fight for healthier working environments on farms and awareness of the impacts of DDT. This led to the discussion of organic farming practices, and how some farmers have found ways to protect their crops without using chemicals.
Students then have the opportunity to meet a real life organic farmer, Javier Zamora, owner of @jsmorganics. Recently, Javier kindly met students on Zoom and walked them around his farm so they could meet some of the teammates and watch them picking sweet produce. He generously donated his strawberries for us to taste in the classroom during this tour. That same weekend, many PS families went to meet him in person at Kensington Market where we got to buy his produce and get samples of fresh fava beans and rainbow carrots. YUM!
Every May 1st graders hold a farm stand, where they share all they’ve learned about Javier and his organic farming practices with their families and sell strawberries. Finally, students donate the proceeds of their sale to ALBA (Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association; this year was $450!).
As the year comes to a close, we can still keep learning and supporting organic farming. Spread the word: if you go to the @kensingtonfarmersmarket on Sunday mornings, you can see Javier at his JSM Organics stand! 🥕
