September/October Beans for Bags Spotlight: Community Wellness Project

The Community Wellness Project is dedicated to growing healthy kids!

We support school gardens, garden and food education, farm to cafeteria, and career and technical education that’s connected to our Food and Farm economy. We believe kids who have plenty of fresh, nutritious food to eat are better able to learn and grow; that eating habits developed in childhood will last a lifetime; and that when students understand what it takes to grow good food, they make informed decisions about the food system they participate in. 

With school back in session, students across Jefferson County are busy exploring their school gardens, tasting the bounty of summer, preparing exciting new recipes, and nourishing their bodies with scratch-cooked school-made meals using locally grown food. Teachers and garden educators are planning field trips to local farms and food producers, like the one sixth grade students took to Chimacum Grainery last June, where they learned all about growing, harvesting, milling, baking, and tasting locally grown grains. They then took their knowledge back to school where they made and ate their own wood-fired pizzas! 

“Just this week third graders from Chimacum prepared and tasted Caprese Salad, using vine ripened tomatoes donated by the Organic Seed Alliance, school-grown basil, and fresh mozzarella. They practiced their knife skills, talked about culinary traditions, and challenged themselves to try new things. One student had this to say: “I’ve never tasted anything like this and I’m almost crying; it tastes so good!””

Soon second graders will be harvesting the pumpkins they planted last spring and learning about all the ways we can prepare and enjoy squash. Some will get to visit Dharma Ridge’s U-Pick pumpkin patch at Glendale Farm. 

By supporting students in growing and eating local food, we know they develop a deeper sense of connection to community, and a lasting sense of place. Your support makes these fresh, juicy, tasty programs possible!

To learn more please visit: https://jccwp.org/