November Field Trip Spotlight: San Juan Diego School
Cut up some fresh cucumbers, add some red hot chili peppers, take a bite out of crunchy carrots. What sounds like a delicious recipe are just a few of the vegetables eighth graders from San Juan Diego High School enjoy most. On a recent November afternoon, the group of 17 students, 3 teachers, and a parent chaperone visited the farm for one of Urban Roots’ fall field trips.
The students came well prepared to learn more about farming. Several have gardens at home, and in class they have been studying migrant farm labor, the effects of pesticides, and industrialized farming practices. “Remember what we have been learning about migrant laborers?” their teacher Mr. Rodriguez asked at the beginning of the field trip. Visiting the farm was one part of the students’ lesson on food justice.
Their visit to the farm began with a farm tour facilitated by Urban Roots
Outreach Apprentices Naya Jones and Leah Jones.
Students learned about alternative, sustainable practices for producing food locally. They witnessed lush veggies, among them basil, cilantro, carrots, cucumber, and Swiss chard, growing on the farm. They even had a chance to taste the fresh basil and cilantro for themselves. (Cilantro was a particular favorite!) The turnips are particularly grateful for the students’ visit. Because the eighth graders removed weeds, we can better expect juicy turnips for the winter harvest.
Aside from the farm tour, students also participated in two games packed
with facts about the food system. Students learned some of their favorite
foods, such as carrots, typically travel thousands of miles to reach their
plates. During the Food Justice walk, they discussed food inequalities and
possible solutions.
Urban Roots would like to say THANK YOU to San Juan Diego High School for visiting the farm.
Interested in an Urban Roots field trip? We host field trips for groups ages pre-school and up, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons!
Contact us at fieldtrips@urbanroots.atx.org or by phone at 512.750.8019 for
more information.
-Naya Jones, Urban Roots Outreach Apprentice
