I just wrote a post yesterday about school gardens and then Cindy found this ad for a school-based plant sale. The sale was in a nearby suburb so we decided to check it out. It is getting close to planting time in Minnesota and we purchase some of our plants to support local charities.
Champlin Park offers secondary classes in urban agriculture. I understand that some city dwellers raise chickens in their backyards and many have gardens, but the phrase “urban agriculture” was new to me. I spoke at some length with the school’s program director and learned a lot. The courses are considered part of the science curriculum, but do not count toward required science credit requirements. I would translate that as electives. The director said that students take the courses for many reasons including just wanting to take a course for a change that allows them to do something. I have my own way of understanding some of these ideas and I would describe this as a “maker” argument. Some students want a different kind of science connection. Some see a possible vocational opportunity. I suppose in the kind of small, rural school I attended as a youth, we might describe this as FFA (Future Farmers of America). Rural agriculture and urban agriculture seem very different.
I wonder if others interested in urban agriculture could make the same argument as the eSports advocates. There is a vocational opportunity if you want to follow that path. I would guess gardening is a more life long activity than gaming. There is a science connection. A subgroup of students finds this focus interesting.
Some photos:
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