Girl Farm 2011: A Collaboration with Laura Jeffrey Academy of St Paul

This spring, WEI is collaborating with Laura Jeffrey Academy in St Paul to start Girl Farm. Laura Jeffrey Academy is offering in-house education through a Q3/Q4 elective course called Girls Go Farming. WEI Girl Farm staff, led by instructor and curriculum developer Sara Sanders, will provide a science-based program that introduces girls to organic farming, marketing and nutrition through a hands-on, outdoor learning environment. A group of seventh grade students from Laura Jeffrey Academy will learn about farm biology (plants, bugs, soil ecology and other related topics), planting, growing, harvesting, and preparing food under the supervision of Girl Farm staff. Students will travel to WEI’s Amador Hill Farm for outdoor learning classes during the spring and summer months. They will also work on developing a product for marketing under the WEI-LJA Girl Farm label. Business planning and strategizing along with product marketing and sales will also be included in the curriculum. Additionally, the students will discuss larger issues of food justice, cultural attitudes and practices related to food.  The program is funded by a grant from the Women's Foundation of Minnesota GirlsBest program.