Midwest Food Connection’s work bringing educational adventures in food, cooking, and gardening to children and their families includes taking Twin Cities students on field trips to local farms to experience where their food comes from firsthand. I was lucky to be able to accompany students on two farm field trips at the end of September.

Third graders from Brimhall Elementary in Roseville visited Big River Farms near Stillwater and helped the farmers there with a number of tasks, including painting a mural on a large canvas, cleaning farm tools, cleaning onions, and moving and washing pumpkins. The students also visited the chickens and geese and took a field walk to take a look at what was growing and discuss what parts of the plant we eat.

First graders from Dowling Elementary in Minneapolis visited Growing Lots Urban Farm, just a few miles away from their school. Students tasted herbs, helped put a garden bed to sleep for the winter, and harvested and cleaned rutabagas. Students, parents, and teachers alike were surprised to learn that the farm is on top of an old asphalt parking lot!

Harvesting rutabagas

Cleaning rutabagas

Weighing rutabagas–students learned that recording data about the harvest is crucial for planning next year’s gardens!

Taking a closer look at a worm

We had a great time on both fall field trips, and we’re looking forward to more field trips in the spring!

-Emily Houser, Program Educator