connection to our neighborhood community is a meaningful part of the students ’ experience at school .
Fall in the Ag Reserve is such a beautiful time , and we wanted to soak it in and linger in the waning sunlight . Part of our school culture is to make use of the ample outdoor spaces and eat lunch outdoors for as long as the weather allows it , but this fall we encountered some additional guests wishing to dine al fresco with us — swarms of aggressive wasps that didn ’ t hesitate to sting . Our nature seeking students were suddenly terrified to be outdoors , and a glimpse of any flying insect became cause for panic . We attempted to activate the students ’ empathy by explaining the challenges the bee and wasp communities go through to protect their queen for the winter as their natural food sources such as flowers and fruits are depleted .
Valiant efforts were made by a few courageous first graders to remain still as the hungry insects dropped into their lunchboxes , but most , as you can imagine , ran away , arms flailing , screaming about bees , and inciting mass hysteria . Students in Pre-K through first grade can look forward to Bee School in the spring . Much like our misunderstood friend , the bat , bees have a bad rap . We intend to change the childrens ’ mindsets about these harshly judged pollinators that are essential for the health of the planet . Bee populations
are declining at an unprecedented rate globally , but we have a slew of passionate youngsters who are ready to rise up and take action to be the next generation of caretakers of the Earth .
At the time of this writing , it is wintertime in the Ag Reserve . During snack one morning , a student triumphantly pulled a crisp red apple out of their bag and noted “ Hey , it ’ s Wednesday !! And I have an apple ! We still have Apple Wednesday !” This immediately started a chorus of first grade voices exclaiming that they too have apples , as well as a medley of other fruits . We formed a circle , and took note of the contents of each others ’ lunchboxes . Later , we posed a series of critical thinking
cooks , caterers and event planners , we are foodies and friends who live on neighboring farms in Montgomery County ’ s Agricultural Reserve . We created Foodies Farms & Friends as a way of sharing our love of cooking and highlighting fresh , locally sourced ingredients .
Full Service Catering Cooking Demos & Classes Special Occasion Meals Recipe Sharing & Videos on our Website
Enjoy fantastic , fresh-picked produce from One Acre Farm every week !
We grow good food to build a strong community . www . foodiesfarmsandfriends . com 240-866-FARM ( 3276 )
Join our CSA at : oneacrefarm . com or email us at support @ oneacrefarm