By Sheila Humphreys

In the spring of 2021, Dummerston School was awarded a $10,000 Farm to School and Early Childhood Grant from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Farm and Markets (VAAFM). According to VAAFM, “The purpose of this grant is to help schools and early childhood education (ECE) organizations develop and expand farm to school and farm to early childhood programs that will foster relationships with local farmers and producers, enrich students' educational experiences, improve the health of Vermont children, and enhance Vermont's agricultural economy.”

This unique grant includes customized professional development provided by Vermont FEED. At Dummerston School, principal Julianne Eagan decided to use that professional development to launch a new buddy classroom program with a Farm to School and outdoor learning focus.

Pairs of buddy classroom teachers met with Vermont FEED staff in September to brainstorm a year’s worth of fun activities to do with their classes. Some teachers were very comfortable taking students of various ages outside into the garden and woods around the school and cooking with students, while for others, this was a new adventure. With creative support and coaching from Vermont FEED and Food Connects staff, teachers came up with various engaging activities to offer their students.

October was the first month to try out these new ideas. Some groups focused on getting to know each other by going on a hike together on the trails at the school, while other groups decided to do cooking projects featuring fall foods. Students in 3rd and 7th grades paired up to make and preserve a big batch of spiced apple pear sauce with apples, pears, and spices donated by the Brattleboro Food Coop, some of which they are saving for a winter treat. They also walked to the newly planted orchard on Dummerston’s campus to see the young apple trees that were donated in 2021 by Scott Farm Orchard. Students in the 1st and 8th grades celebrated the corn harvest by making handmade tortillas with masa donated by MiTierra Tortillas. They ate their tortillas with salsa made from tomatoes and other ingredients from the school garden.

Looking ahead, classes plan to do activities including winter tracking, snow fort design challenges, tapping trees and making maple syrup, seed starting, spring ephemerals, and hatching chicks. What an amazing year to be a student at Dummerston School!