Outside Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, the typical scenery is there: cars filling the parking lot, made from tons of concrete, and cars going for miles on a highway of asphalt. What is atypical nearby, is a vast patch of collard greens.
The farm adjacent to the school is loaded with greens and vegetables. The greenhouse contains lettuce, tomatoes, herbs, and other delicious produce. Several students and a teacher care for budding plants in tiny cups. It’s a botany class, and these students are practicing what they learn.
Woodlawn High School is one of thirteen in Jefferson County, Alabama, that have partnered with Jones Valley Teaching Farms to grow veggies on their properties. Kelly Baker with JVTF told American Essence about this ingenious idea. She is in charge of this partnership.
“Jones Valley Teaching Farms in Woodlawn began four years ago, and students were involved in the design process. We work with them and collaborate with the teachers, then connect their lessons to the farm. If a biology class is learning about plant genetics and cross-pollination, we take the students into the greenhouse and teach them the process,” Baker said.
Jones Valley Teaching Farms operate student-centered teaching farms on Birmingham school campuses. On the downtown campus, JVTF is building the Center for Food Education where students, educators, and the community thrive in a dynamic hub centered around food. The center helps the youth with education, health, and employment. It offers a variety of programs, including field trips, food instruction, community gardening, culinary classes, and training opportunities.
At Woodlawn High School, the greenhouse is abuzz. “We work with the students and get to know them on a deeper level,” Baker said. “The ultimate purpose of the farm, in addition to growing food and providing for the community, is to give the students professional development skills they can take with them after they graduate. Skills like communication, being punctual, and caring about what you do.”
The JVTF at Woodlawn High school sells its products to the public during the spring. All the money goes back to the farm to continue its mission. Its website states: “Jones Valley Teaching Farm uses the power of growing food to transform and improve a young person’s pre-K-12 educational experience. We build vibrant, student-centered Teaching Farms on school campuses to provide an environment where young people can learn, create, explore, and grow a healthy future for themselves and their community.”
In the greenhouse, student Avant Clayborn picked what appeared to be a weed from a pot of tomato plant. When the teacher confirmed the identity of the imposter plant, the rest of the students clapped and cheered.
“I love that we grow food and people,” Clayborn said. “I wasn’t such a good person when I joined. I did some bad things. After working here for a while, I began doing more good in my life. This farm has taught me that everything you do has a consequence. I love working here and watching the stuff grow. It’s like you’re a parent,” Clayborn grinned.
The student next to him, Destiny Nelson-Miles, laughed. “I like that we can explore and grow. We also get to do fun activities and learn new experiences. My favorite part is making friends, talking to them, and getting advice. I wasn’t a relationship person before I started working here, but now I have lots of friends.”
That little farm behind Woodlawn High School grows plants into food for the community, and students into responsible and productive members of society.
