Local Farmer, Jena Paice brings the whole farm experience to local kids at the St. Michaels Community Center. From learning about creating healthy soil to preparing a family feast, the “Green Team” of SMCC gets to experience the full meaning of where their food comes from, the importance of farmers in our community and why it’s so important to eat healthy. Jena Paice has been developing this comprehensive program for local elementary school children in St. Michaels for over 3 years.
In addition to Jena’s farm, Spiritgrower, the “Green Team” at SMCC has been enthusiastically welcomed to most local farms in our area and have had the opportunity to gather warm eggs from mother hens, witness the fresh rows of newly planted crops, pull fresh greens, dig potatoes and radishes, pluck other produce from the earth and witness newborn baby farm animals joining the farm family. As Jena says, “The kids just light up with excitement running through the fields. It’s truly one of my greatest joys as a farmer.”
Jena and the Green Team maintain two garden beds at the SMCC Community Garden in St. Michaels. Besides learning about proper planting, harvesting techniques and raising livestock, kids also get a comprehensive education about food groups, building a healthy diet, and lots of experience cooking nutritious recipes with the treasures they reap from the gardens and farms. At the end of each After School Kids (A.S.K.) Semester and Summer Class session, the families of the students are invited to share the season’s rich bounty with a meal prepared by the class.
The “Green Team” is offered to area kids in grades K – 5th grade. For more information on how to participate or to learn more about the program, please call 410-745-5102.
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