Education is central to revaluing our food, understanding the food system, and collaboratively designing community solutions to respond to unmet needs to move toward community food security. Since 2008, schools, youth groups, service clubs, and individuals visit the Bounty Community Farm to learn where their food comes from through experiential learning.
Projected Outcomes of Educational Initiatives:
- Improve participants’ relationship to food through hands-on experiences;
- Increase individuals’ skills of food cultivation and preparation through workshops, volunteering, partnerships with job training agencies, schools, community organizers and community groups; and
- Increase awareness of the true cost of food and foster engagement in community solutions.
Educational Programming:
Educational activities fit into two priority areas: 1) Food & Farm Literacy and 2) Food is Medicine. For a more in-depth description of the various educational initiatives, please click on the following links:
1) Food & Farm Literacy activities include field trips, service learning, volunteer development, internships, job training, and workshops. It is crucial to note that these participants are receiving education and experience, but they are providing their energy, enthusiasm and critical thinking skills.
2) Food is Medicine
Educational Farm Visits, Farm Tours, Corporate Service Days, Volunteer Programs
The Bounty Community Farm offers weekly volunteer shifts for participants to work alongside our farm staff while growing food for their community. School groups are given a tour and provided an activity for hands-on learning.
Internships
We coordinate up to 10 interns and 8 youth employees per year on sustainable farming. Interns identify their own goals to ensure their experience is relevant to their interests. Job training for at-risk youth is taught by Sonoma County Youth Ecology Center.
Community Workshops
At the farm, we offer a series of hands-on learning opportunities that reflect our desire to build skills and share community expertise around topics related to a thriving local food system.
A.L.I.V.E
Weekly during the farming season, participants of A.L.I.V.E. come out to the Bounty Community Farm to learn first-hand where their food comes from and how it is cultivated.
