The Village
Allegheny Mountain Institute
Waynesboro Public Schools
The Waynesboro Educational Farm, located at Berkeley Glenn Elementary School, began in January of 2021. During AMI's involvement, it served as a production and education space, allowing students, teachers, and families to join in growing vegetables for school and community use. AMI worked with a committee of teachers and administrators who guided the direction of the farm and educational integration.
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The farm had 1/4 of an acre in production, growing a wide variety of nutrient-dense vegetables using ecologically sound, soil-building practices. There was also a greenhouse, shed, and wash-pack area on site. In 2022, an educational pavilion and perennial fruit garden was added.
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Teachers at Kate Collins Middle School worked in conjunction with AMI to direct the Garden Club gatherings and Summer School programming. Planting, weeding, harvesting, washing, packing, and distributing were integrated into student activities.
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The vegetables grown on the farm were utilized in three ways:
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The school cafeteria integrated the produce into school meals.
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Teachers used the vegetables as part of educational activities.
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Harvest bags accompanied school meals that were distributed to participating families.
Summer 2022 Farm Camp
Farm Camp at Waynesboro Educational Farm took place for rising 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students at Kate Collins Middle School. Farm Camp was free and transportation was provided by the school.
From watering, weeding, and harvesting, to washing, packing, and delivering veggies, campers experienced all parts of the farm. Additionally, students explored the nearby forest and went on field trips. Every day featured delicious farm-fresh snacks, games, music, and community-building activities.
Kate Collins Middle School Courtyard Gardens
With installation beginning in 2019, two courtyard gardens at Kate Collins Middle School provided space for students to engage with agricultural hands-on learning directly outside their classrooms. They offered 12-raised beds, an outdoor covered classroom, and a three-bin compost system.
Teachers worked in conjunction with AMI Fellows to develop lessons that integrate hands-on activities with standards of learning in all subjects. The Middle School Garden Club also cared for and helped to grow the vegetables planted in the courtyards. Experiential education in the courtyards aimed to improve student achievement, leadership skills, physical health, and social-emotional learning.
