November 13, 2023
Loudoun Times – A new food education program at JK Community Farm in Purcellville was recently launched as part of the farm’s field trip program, according to a press release.
Grant funding for the program was provided by Truist Bank, the Junior League of Northern Virginia, and 100 Women Strong.
“As part of our work to alleviate food insecurity, we are committed to educating people about food justice and healthy eating — starting with kids. By offering hands-on educational programs and field trips, we can share our passion for farming and help them understand the connection between soil, plants, people, and health,” said Samantha Kuhn, executive director of JK Community Farm, in a statement. “Our new curriculum is an important and awesome tool to help us generate excitement and appreciation for nutrition, and we are grateful to our supporters for making this possible.”
Developed in partnership with FoodPrints DC, the program integrates gardening, cooking, and nutrition education into the current curriculum.
As part of the field trip program, the farm provides activity guides for each grade level and a food education workbook that can be downloaded from the farm’s website. The field trips help parents and teachers get their students outside to learn and provide hands-on activities to help students make connections between what they are learning in school and the natural world and understand more about food insecurity in the community, the release states.
JK Community Farm, a nonprofit, started in 2018 with the support of JK Moving Services. It seeks to impact struggling families within the Washington, D.C. region by growing and donating chemical-free produce and protein to those struggling with hunger.
