From Seed to Plate: an innovative experience in nutrition education
Jones Valley Urban Farm in Birmingham, Alabama by Grant Brigham
JVUF is partnering with Phillips Academy--a K-8 public school in downtown Birmingham, Alabama--to educate every student in the school through our Seed to Plate program. We define Seed to Plate as an innovative, hands-on agriculture and nutrition education program for schools and children. Instructors include teachers, farmers, agri-scientists, nutrition educators and chefs. The program’s activities take place in the field, in the classroom, and in the kitchen. (Video by www.abryanphoto.com.)
Jones Valley Urban Farm primarily serves school systems in and around the Birmingham City area. Our focus is on K-8 education.
In the last 10 years, Jones Valley Urban Farm has successfully transformed over 3 acres of vacant downtown property into an organic teaching farm, educating over 4,000 children/students through our Seed to Plate program.
We believe we can help change the way students and children view food and how it connects to their health.
Alabama ranks in the bottom ten for diabetes (1st worst), obesity (2nd worst), hypertension (3rd worst), physical activity (4th worst), and consumption of fruits and vegetables. We will use the money, and the power of education, to reverse these trends for over 700 students in one school.
