Our Farm to School program is focused on educating students about the full cycle of food from seed to harvest. Students learn how to grow edible crops, cook with fresh produce, save seeds, make compost, and so much more. Take a closer look at what we do below.
Learning as part of weekly garden lessons
One of our hens, Chick-Fil-A!
Fresh eggs from one of Concordia's hens. In the school garden, there is a chicken coop that is home to 6 hens and 1 rooster!
Making ketchup with freshly harvested tomatoes from the school garden
Tasting the ketchup with fresh potato wedges
A member of our Bee Club holds a frame from the school bee hive. In our "Secret Garden," Concordia has a fully functional educational bee hive. To learn more about the bee club or purchase honey, click here.
A member of our Bee Club holds a frame from the school bee hive. In our "Secret Garden," Concordia has a fully functional educational bee hive. To learn more about the bee club or purchase honey, click here.
Making our famous blackberry jam in the garden. Every year, our blackberry vines in the school garden produce huge, juicy blackberries. We love making jam to share with all of our students!
Ms. Buck and a student get their first taste of our fresh jam on toast!
Snap peas!
Our Farm to School Coordinator, Mr. James, making some fresh berry leaf and lemongrass tea in the school garden
Planting tomatoes and peppers in the garden!
Ms. Iris teaching students proper knife skills as we teach students to cook in the school garden
Learning to cut watermelon correctly
Working hard and harvesting carrots in the school garden
Carrots harvested fresh from the school garden!
Carrots harvested fresh from the school garden!
Processing a pumpkin that students grew in the garden
Tasting pumpkin muffins that students baked!
Getting lost in the tomato plants
Planting flowers to make our school beautiful
A passion butterfly that has made its home on our passion fruit vine in the "Secret garden"
Hanging out with the chickens
Sweet pea crown
Making pickles!
Freshly made pickles!
Cooking classes even for our youngest students
Harvesting berries
A juicy strawberry
Using the sun to make art
Farm to School means:
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Students learn where their food comes from. Food doesn’t just appear in the grocery store. It is grown by by farmers all over the country, transported in trucks, ships or planes before it reaches the grocery store. By understanding this system, students are able to make better choices through shopping locally for produce that is grown locally, grown organically, and grown with the seasons.
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At Concordia, our community is learning what food looks like at all stages of life. From planting the seeds in a garden bed to months later, harvesting an edible crop, students learn what it takes to grow food. We are passionate about are equipping our community with the knowledge to grow their own wherever possible.
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As, Mr. James always say’s, “There’s no point teaching children how to grow food, if you don’t teach them how to cook it!” Students learn how to transform their harvests from the school garden into delicious recipes that the entire class and sometimes school can enjoy. From knife skills, to proper washing techniques, to how to cook with an oven vs on a stove, students at Concordia are learning skills that will last a lifetime.
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From composting to ending single use plastic to reducing paper waste, Concordia is extremely aware of the impact individuals and institutions have on the environment. We are proud to be zero food waste as of 2026 and are focused on reducing waste in all other areas of our school.
Concordia Charter School Bee Club
Student’s 5th grade and above have the opportunity to join the Concordia Charter School Bee Club. The Bee Club, started by our Farm to School Coordinator James Lang with support from Randy Taggart, the Custodian at Concordia, teaches students about what it takes to be a beekeeper and gives students an in depth, hands-on educational experience on pollinators and their role in our food system.
Member’s of the bee club undergo an 8 week training course which culminates with a test. All students who pass their test receive a Junior Beekeeper Certification and are able to join Mr. James and Mr. Randy for hive inspections. During these hive inspections, students learn up close the ins and outs of the bee life, where honey comes from and how it is made, where pollen goes once a bee harvests it from a flower, and so much more.
If you want to learn more, join us for a hive inspection or support the bee club you can reach out to Mr. James at jlang@concordiacharter.org.
If you want to buy honey and support us directly, click here.
