SPS Farm receives ODE grant to continue operations, expand offerings to schools

Springfield Public Schools (SPS) was recently awarded an Oregon Department of Education (ODE) Farm to School Grant for $100,000. ODE awarded 76 recipients a combined $3 million to expand food, agriculture, and garden-based experiential learning across the state.

The Farm to School investment means nearly 775,000 Oregon students will be getting better and healthier food choices this next school year.

 “This grant will allow us to continue the momentum we have built and expand student opportunities,” said Joyce Douglas, SPS Farm coordinator. “In addition, the SPS Farm will increase on site cold storage which is needed for us to expand fruit and veggie production. It will also pay for supplies such as soil, seeds, and fertilizer.”

Over the past two years, Douglas has been working with SPS Nutrition Services to streamline processes to deliver the freshest possible SPS Farm grown produce to all district cafeterias. 

Thanks to the grant, SPS Farm will also be able to offer more and new produce to schools. This year SPS Farm will be growing romaine lettuce, joi choi, yellow pear cherry tomatoes and kalibos red cabbage. The SPS Farm is also expanding production of cantaloupe, broccoli, cauliflower, romanesco broccoli, cucumbers, sweet peppers, jalapeños, onions, cilantro and tomatoes. 

In addition, Douglas hopes to expand student participation at the farm. 

“We are expanding our partnerships with the district’s Community Transition Program, Life Skills Program and Youth Transition Program to provide work-based learning experiences to more students,” said Douglas. “We will also work to increase classroom participation at the farm. We are currently working with A3 to provide hands-on agricultural learning experiences for students this spring.”

Douglas is also partnering with elementary classrooms to identify opportunities for field trips and conducting STEM activities at the farm. Teachers and volunteers who are interested can contact Joyce Douglas at joyce.douglas@springfield.k12.or.us.