This article appears as part of Hawthorne Valley’s 2024 Annual Impact Report: The Biodiversity Edition. We invite you to explore the full report and learn more about our work to renew soil, society, and self through the integration of education, agriculture, and the arts here.
Cultivating Connection Through Food
Over the past year, lunchtime at the Visiting Students Program (VSP) was a lively and social affair. Every day at 12:30 pm, the dining hall buzzed with enthusiastic children, teachers, and farm educators, united by the joy of sharing delicious, organic meals. The VSP upheld its reputation for serving meals that delighted young diners from across the Northeast, with favorites like Spiraled Roasted Potatoes, Burrito Tuesdays, Cheesy Millet Mountains, and Monday Vegetable Stir Fry.
One memorable moment came during a lunch with a group of 4th-grade visitors from New York City. “This is probably my favorite meal of the week!” one child exclaimed, savoring mac and cheese paired with lemon-butter broccoli. The children had learned just that morning that many of the ingredients in their meal—eggplants, leeks, potatoes, and other vegetables—had been harvested the day before from the PBLC Children’s Garden by their own hands.
This sense of connection extended beyond the kitchen. A child who initially avoided the broccoli skeptically was gently encouraged by his teacher to take a “farmer’s taste”—just one bite. That tentative nibble turned into bold bites of sunflower seeds, salad, and more, demonstrating the transformative power of engaging with food at its source.
From Garden to Table
Every week during the fall, children enjoyed popcorn and apple cider for their morning snacks. On Tuesdays, they learned that the cider they were drinking had been pressed the previous week by their peers, using apples from the Place-based Learning Center’s (PBLC) apple trees and local partners like Rose Hill, Thompson Finch, and Perelandra Orchards. For many children, this was their first encounter with fresh-pressed cider and the processes behind it, deepening their appreciation for locally grown food.
When ingredients weren’t sourced directly from the Children’s Garden, their origins remained close to home. All vegetables served were organic and locally sourced, with a strong preference for produce from Hawthorne Valley Farm. When necessary, additional supplies came from trusted partners like Miller’s Crossing, Blue Star Farm, and Common Hands Farm. This commitment to local agriculture underscored the PBLC’s mission of fostering sustainability and community resilience.
Transformative Experiences in Food and Farming
Throughout the year, the VSP inspired countless transformations. Children arrived hesitant about trying new foods—especially vegetables—but left with newfound enthusiasm for cooking, eating hearty farmer’s lunches, and harvesting produce. On the final day of each program, children often shared how much they enjoyed experiences they initially resisted, such as preparing soup or picking vegetables.
The impact extended beyond taste buds. As children waved goodbye at the end of the week, they carried a sense of pride and connection to the land, farming, and gardening. These experiences not only introduced children to the joys of agriculture but also instilled lasting lessons about the value of community, sustainability, and self-sufficiency.
PBLC continued to fulfill its mission of nurturing meaningful connections between children, food, and farming. By grounding children in the rhythms of nature and the work of sustainable agriculture, the program planted seeds of understanding and respect for the environment that will continue to grow in years to come.
by Matt Davis and Joe Harris, Co-Directors