Students learn about local organic agriculture and nutrition through hands-on activities that incorporate math, science, art and writing as well as practical life skills such as cooking, gardening, problem solving, and working together.

On-Farm Programs

Fall Pumpkin Harvest & Spring Exploration (Pre-k - 1st grade)

A one and a half hour field trip at the RVF2S pumpkin patch at The Farm at SOU in Ashland for preschool - first grade students. The field trips introduce children to the plant life cycle and compost; fall abundance allows identifying and sampling in the field and each child will harvest a small pumpkin to take home. Tours are available Tuesday and Wednesday in the month of October and cost $80 per class. Financial assistance is available. To schedule a program, email rebecca@rvfarm2school.org

Harvest Meals (2nd grade and up)

A 3-4 hour farm visit that includes a variety of age-appropriate lessons and activities in the field and kitchen. Students will participate in harvesting and cooking lunch at the farm. Harvest Meals are offered in the fall, September-October and in the spring, April-June. Harvest Meal fee: $200 per Class.  Financial assistance is available.  To schedule a program, request a date from our program calendar.

School Partnership Program

The Digging Deeper School Partnership Program was launched in 2018 as a targeted effort to support a culture of health and project-based learning in school communities. We work with schools to identify a focused grade; then, our staff offers a layered approach of program delivery to ensure that education about living and eating healthy is intertwined in classroom subjects and beyond to give students a rich, meaningful educational experience.

School Gardens

RVF2S school-based educators teach weekly garden classes to school-identified grades, bringing real-life applications to all core subjects, while teaching students the practical skills necessary for making healthy choices. Together, students and staff maintain a healthy garden space to be used as a living classroom and productive growing space.

Harvest of the Month

At the beginning of each month, RVF2S school-based educators serve samples of a local, seasonal fruit or vegetable to students in their own cafeteria. After sampling, students vote on what they thought about the new foods to foster a celebratory culture around trying new foods. Then, we work with school food services to ensure that the item is featured on the lunch line throughout the rest of the month.

Harvest Meal Farm Field Trips

Every partner class attends two Harvest Meal field trips a year to a partnering farm of their choice. Farms are staffed with each class’s school-based educator, building stronger relationships with students and connecting themes across programs.

Farm to Cafeteria

As Procurement Hub for the Southern Oregon, RVF2S works to increase connections between local producers and school food service staff. Each partnering school receives support from RVF2S staff to increase scratch cooking of not only farm-fresh, but school garden-grown produce.

Professional Learning Communities

RVF2S believes that school gardens are most successful when integrated into school culture. To actualize this, we work closely with teachers participating in the Partnership Program by offering quarterly professional development workshops that support teachers in utilizing their school gardens to their fullest potential, including skill-building and curriculum support.