APS School Board Meeting / YFAP Presentation

The Youth Food Action project gave a presentation last night to the Albuquerque School Board.  Presenters included Nissa Patterson from Growing Gardens Team, May Erwin (science department from Wilson Middle School, two students from South Valley Academy Service Learning Program, Andrew Marcum (UNM Research Service Learning), and Richard Brandt (Youth Food Action Project director).  The presentation stressed the importance and benefits of using school gardens as educational tools in the classroom.  The presentation went well and seemed to spark some interest from school board members.

Richard Brandt

Youth Food Action Project Director

Dragon Farm Director

Anonymous SVA student, Ms. Gable’s Science Class

Today in class we took soil samples from different plots at the farm.  We need to test nitrogen levels.  It was fun to get out of class and work outside.

Anonymous SVA student, Ms. Gable’s Science Class

Victor 9th Grade SVA Service leaning

We planted spinach at Dragon Farm today and then we went to Kirtland Elementary to work with the UNM students. We roto-tilled a new plot to expand on the existing garden. We also planted winter rye in the new plot using a broadcast seeder.  The winter rye will help to build nitrogen in the soil.

Anonymous SVA Student 10th Grade SVA Service Learning

I got to use the broadcast seeder at Kirtland Elementary today.  We planted winter rye in the new 3500 square foot plot.  It has a handle and crank that you turn.  It shoots the seeds out.  It’s pretty cool.

Fall has Come to ABQ

It is cooling down considerably in our region. What a blazing summer this was! Even the greens under the row cover had their lifetimes shortened from the high temperatures. We wrapped up our contained summer spinach experiment and I must confess the results were more than pleasing to the palate. Next market season we plan to be able to sell the sweetest spinach (in my humble opinion) to our appreciated customers during hot summer months.

Miguel Martinez

Dragon Farm

Assistant Farm Manager

Lurdes Ortiz SVA Student

We have planted and harvested tomatoes, lettuce, jalapenos and carrots for South Valley Academy Lunch Program. I am glad to tell my peers that I helped grow what they were eating. I love to eat the tomatoes with their fresh taste. Compared to the store bought tomatoes Dragons Farm is the best. My peers in the Sustainability class share the same joy of the reward of our hard work, especially when we see the label Dragon Farm over the salad bar. It is cool to be one of the few schools in the country that serve produce from the garden in the lunch program.

Alex 10 Grade SVA Service Learning

We went to Kirtland Elementary today to start planning the new garden.  We also took soil samples to test for any toxins and heavy metals.  We will be working with UNM Research Service Learning students this semester. It should be pretty cool.

Victor 9th Grade SVA Service Learning

Today we worked at Kirtland Elementary with students form UNM.  We dug some holes to take soil samples.  We also worked on the design of the new garden.  I like working off campus.