gives back to the Woodlawn city

Planting for the Future

Apprentices at Jones Valley Teaching Farm sow seeds of produce and education

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF JONES VALLEY TEACHING FARM

Apprentices are employed by JVTF and have the opportunity to grow, knowledge and produce, to lead their community long-term.

Many in the community already recognize Jones Valley Teaching Farm for its work with partner schools. For years now, JVTF has collaborated with teachers in partner schools to offer handson education in life science, math, social studies, language arts, health, and art using food as the foundation. Their dynamic curriculum includes farms on seven school campuses, helping to connect the students to the environment about which they’re learning. After-school programs incorporate the STEM approach as kids grow, harvest, cook and sell their produce grown on the farm.

However, says Executive Director Amanda Storey, the team at JVTF saw an interest in work at the farm, and they also knew there was a need for youth employment. So, in 2015, the Woodlawn High School Apprenticeship was created for students. “We felt that the teaching farm could be an ideal place for students to learn, gain on-the-job work training, and develop talent, while also experiencing all of the incredible life skills a farm can provide,” says Amanda.

Funded by PNC Bank, the apprenticeship offers participants the chance to work alongside their classmates and JVTF’s fulltime staff. Together, they prepare soil, plant, cultivate, harvest, clean, and distribute the fresh produce. Students receive farm training, professional development resources, and oneon-one mentoring. Working in collaboration with Woodlawn’s Career Tech Department, participants can work during school hours to receive credit.

“We have found that students participating in our program have a vast range of career interests, from cosmetology to computer programming, agricultural education, and finance. Though the apprenticeship is based around the farm, we strive to give all apprentices a well-rounded professional experience to prepare them for any of these paths,” says Amanda. “Students who work on the WHS Teaching Farm usually have a great curiosity and are eager to learn more about the relationship between humans and our environment. The accessibility (across the street from the school) and pay rate are great motivators as well! Many applicants have past experience with JVTF Farm Clubs or lessons and reach out to us because they enjoyed those experiences.”

Learn more about these students and the Woodlawn High School Apprenticeship in the full article online at bhamfamily.com.