BRATTLEBORO — Sam Rowley's horticulture students at the Windham Regional Career Center have been doing their share to promote the production and consumption of locally grown food.
And they're taking on some other notable community projects along the way. Rowley's collaboration with Food Connects has enabled his team to work in some sizable organic gardens.
Food Connects' mission is to cultivate healthy farm and food connections in classrooms, cafeterias, and communities. Their gardens are at the Famolare Farm in Brattleboro, abutting the Career Center.
Rowley says he sees this work as providing his students with a direct connection to the food they eat and allowing them to participate in our local food system.
Last year, for example, his students planted onions at the farm. This year, his students delivered more than 200 pounds of onions - a healthy haul - to Brattleboro Union High School's cafeteria.
Similarly, his students have brought in last year's planting of sweet potatoes, which are now curing in his shop and will be served up as part of the school's lunch program. His students also recently planted garlic, and look forward to next year's harvest - and, yes, delivery to the school's cafeteria.
Rowley's students also have assisted with excavation at the Green Street School to prepare a site for a shed to be built by Bob Simeon and his Career Center construction students.
Moreover, Rowley's students have helped blow leaves at the Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center to help that organization prepare for its annual fundraiser - and recently took on a similar project at the Retreat trails to benefit a Brattleboro Fire Department fundraiser.
Oscar Smith, a Career Center senior from Whitingham, says he has enjoyed serving on the team that's been growing and harvesting food for school cafeteria consumption.
“I enjoy letting people know where their food comes from and how it's grown,” he explains.
Smith is enrolled in Career Center courses in horticulture, diversified farming, electricity, and technical English. He says he's considering college studies in landscaping and wildlife management.