Students Experienced Regenerative Farming Firsthand and Learned how a Local Farm Nurtures the Land While Growing Delicious Food
Written by Caroline Paul, Logistics Coordinator & Changemakers Instructor. New Vista High School’s Community Adventure Program (CAP) class spent their fall field day at Ollin Farms, where students spent the day planting, harvesting, and clearing debris. Ollin Farms is a small, family-run farm in Longmont that has been practicing regenerative farming for over 20 years!
While planting kale, students discovered tracks from both a rabbit and a fox! The food web came to life right before their eyes, right there in the soil. Moving on to the harvest, students picked Dragon’s Tongue beans, one of the coolest-looking green bean varieties, with purple spots all over. They filled three entire tubs! The produce students planted and harvested will be sold at Ollin Farms’ farm stand, included in CSAs, or used for the farm’s farm-to-table dinner parties.
Today’s bean harvest was especially meaningful because it was the last one before the plants would be uprooted and fed to the sheep. How cool is it to plant, harvest, and repurpose crops all in one day? And getting to hang out with the farm animals is always a bonus! Who doesn’t love sheep?
Lunch was extra special because the group got to visit the farm stand and purchase fresh produce to enjoy with their meals. Peppers, peaches, plums, onions, and tomatoes were all in abundance. The famous Mark (one of the Ollin Farms Leaders/Farmers) even served up what may have been the most flavorful cantaloupe ever grown!
With a little time left in the day, students helped Mark clear brush and debris. As they worked, he taught them about the importance of healthy living soil and how Ollin Farms keeps its soil rich in nutrients to continue growing delicious food.
Thanks to the funders and supporters who make the CAP class possible, including: Enterprise Holdings Foundation, Great Outdoors Colorado, Patagonia, PeyBack Foundation, Strear Family Foundation, Thorne Nature Experience, the Walton Family Foundation, and the Xcel Energy Foundation.
If you are also passionate about getting students outside for unique outdoor experiences such as learning about regenerative farming, please consider making a donation or becoming a monthly donor! You’ll help invest in our students, programs, and long-term sustainability and success!
