- Over the last several years, Florence 1 Schools has introduced farm-to-school concepts to students through gardens at many of the district’s elementary schools and middle schools.
- The Farm at Florence 1 expands that curriculum and provides more opportunities for students across the district.
- The campus includes:
- Teaching kitchen
- Indoor and outdoor classroom space
- Two greenhouses
- Apiary for honeybees
- A sensory edible garden of raised beds
- Fruit trees
- Jeff Murrie and his team are passionate about educating the students within Florence 1 School District and beyond about several topics within agriculture and are always looking at the next thing, which I appreciate. Plans for a weekend farmers market and selling products from the farm like honey.
- The Farm is community centric with a lot of partnerships including local Clemson Extension, MUSC health, Farm Bureau, and other businesses within Florence County.
- The Goals of the Florence 1 Farm to School Program are:
- Build the Farm to School program across Florence One Schools
- Increase local food offerings at each school.
- Increase the healthfulness of meals.
- Build a more sustainable food system.
- Provide all students with opportunities for physical engagement and interaction with the environment.
- Chartwells, the food service provider of the school district, comes out to the Farm and uses lettuce from the beds in the salads. We saw that firsthand at our visit.