- 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.
SC Commissioner Weathers: The Farm at Florence One
May 5, 2025 | 11:51 PM