4-H Student Farm is an after-school program that has inspired students to engage in healthier eating habits and learn where their food comes from. The six week program also provides an opportunity for middle schoolers to acquaint themselves with agriculture. The students follow a curriculum that touches on the agriculture industry, the complexity of good soil, importance of pollinators as well as the practices of planting and harvesting.
When asked about their experience with the program, students had this to say...
“I loved the planting and outdoor activities, my favorite subject we learned was the one about pollinators. I wish I could come back next year.”--Morgan
“My favorite part of student farm was the planting outside, and I enjoyed learning about pollinators. I look forward to coming back next year.”--Destiny
“I thought the pollinators were interesting and it's cool that some only fly at night. My favorite thing to do was the cooking activities, I can't wait to come back next year.”--Louie
Twelve students from Ventura Unified School District participated in...
Attached Images:
![laying irrigation tape laying irrigation tape](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/Hansen/blogfiles/59233.jpg)
Students work in groups to properly lay irrigation tape
![weeding and planting weeding and planting](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/Hansen/blogfiles/59227.jpg)
Picking weeds and planting lettuce
![planting herbs planting herbs](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/Hansen/blogfiles/59242.jpg)
Planning appropriate distance and depth for planting basil, thyme, chamomile and oregano seedlings
![handling seedlings handling seedlings](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/Hansen/blogfiles/59234.jpg)
Handling seedlings with care
![Handling seedlings with care Handling seedlings with care](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/Hansen/blogfiles/59235.jpg)
![native plant learning native plant learning](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/Hansen/blogfiles/59231.jpg)
Learning about California native plants and how they may have been used by the Chumash
![native plants native plants](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/Hansen/blogfiles/59236.jpg)
Observing native plants
![worm composting worm composting](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/Hansen/blogfiles/59237.jpg)
Learning how to start and maintain a healthy worm composting bin
![cooking activities cooking activities](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/Hansen/blogfiles/59238.jpg)
Students work together during cooking activities. Making rainbow wraps
![Working together and learning about the importance of eating vegetables Working together and learning about the importance of eating vegetables](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/Hansen/blogfiles/59239.jpg)
Working together and learning about the importance of eating vegetables
![Cooking activities are a part of each meeting Cooking activities are a part of each meeting](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/Hansen/blogfiles/59240.jpg)
Cooking activities are a part of each meeting