Hands in Soil

Our region is lucky to have community growing and learning spaces that welcome students of all ages. At teaching greenhouses and farms, agriculture and gardening are not only about putting food on the table; they are a chance to deepen our relationship with the community and the natural world. For more information on these and other community food resources, see page 60.

BONNI’S GARDEN at the Wood River Community YMCA is a memorial garden in honor of passionate food education proponent Bonni Curran. Through the generous support of Peter Curran and other community members, the Garden connects kids and adults to growing food. The Garden features outdoor raised beds, a heated greenhouse for year-round growing, beehives, vermiculture and a trout tank. Their current programs bring five-to twelve-year-old children into the process of planting, cultivating and harvesting their own food. In addition to being a learning environment, the Garden is also a place where Y members and guests can go for quiet and rejuvenation. Find out more at woodriverymca.org.

At THE SAGE SCHOOL in Hailey, food systems are a part of the year-round curriculum. Every other year, 10th and 11th grade students focus on food as it relates to human ecology. The students dive deep into how food production and consumption impact health, the environment and society. When not out in the field, students work in the on-campus greenhouse conducting experiments on plants to see how different inputs and variables affect growth. Beyond discovery and education, their greenhouse is also an income generator, with their community tomato and basil CSA providing funding for the school. Learn more at thesageschool.org.

THE HUNGER COALITION builds a healthy community by providing access to good food and addressing the root causes of food insecurity. We plant and harvest community gardens that supply healthy, nutritious produce to local families and offer gathering spaces where volunteers can learn about growing their own food through the Volunteer for Veggies program. This year, The Hunger Coalition moved into their new Bloom Community Food Center, with year-round greenhouses, raised beds and a community kitchen where the harvest will be transformed into healthy meals! Volunteer and learn more at thehungercoalition.org.