What is Farm-to-Food Lab?

Farm-to-Food Lab is a three part educational experience, including a field trip to a working farm, where students learn about everything from the science of growing our food to its nutritional values and impact on our bodies. Farm-to-Food Lab is a living laboratory where students dive into water, plant, and soil science activities. The Farm-to-Food Lab Program is aligned with 3rd-grade NGSS standards and is offered free of charge to all schools, including bus reimbursements to and from our farm locations.

Available in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties!

Field Trip Locations:
• Allan Hancock College Vineyard and Community Garden - Santa Maria, CA
• Petty Ranch - Saticoy, CA

Scroll down to learn more and download the Farm Lab Passport here!

Program Mission

To build awareness of and appreciation for agriculture from farm to consumption through hands on experiential learning with an emphasis on soil science, plant science, water cycles, entomology, food systems, and nutritional science via classroom and field trip presentations.

Program Overview

Pt. 1 INTRO TO AGRICULTURE

Classroom Presentation

In this classroom presentation, we aim to establish and strengthen the young students’ connection to agriculture and our food. This presentation is the foundation in agricultural literacy, and is the first building block in our comprehensive third grade curriculum.

This 1-hour lesson includes:

  • Intro to SEEAG

  • The Food Supply Chain

  • Introducing the Agricultural Sciences

    • Soil

    • Water

    • Plant & Insect

  • Field Trip Preparation

Pt. 2 FARM LAB

Venture to a local working farm where students rotate through four interactive stations, each featuring STEM-based learning objectives. This hands-on experience brings the agricultural sciences to life.

This 4.5-hour trip includes:

  1. Plant & Insect Science: Educates students about the various components of plants, demonstrates how to plant and care for a seedling, and teaches them about the distinction between pest and beneficial insects and their roles on a farm.

  2. Soil Science: In this portion, we teach what makes a healthy soil. We give students the opportunity to use their senses to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy soil. Lastly, we give the students an opportunity to create their own soil Play-Doh, what we call texturing to estimate how much water a soil can hold for growing plants.

  3. Water Science: Introduces the importance of water in a farm ecosystem, identifies the main stages of the water cycle, and explains the significance of groundwater extraction, irrigation, and water conservation.

  4. Harvest, Distribution, and Marketing: Teaches students how fruits and vegetables are picked, sorted, distributed, and sold at our stores. Students work together to understand and connect each step of the food supply chain post-harvest.

Pt. 3 FOOD LAB

Return to the classroom for the final chapter of the food supply chain journey. Here, students dive into nutrition and discover the essential role of locally grown food in health and wellness.

Check out Youth Wellness Initiative webpage for more information and resources.

This 1-hour lesson includes:

  • Nutrition Science

  • Local Crop Taste Testing

  • Mindful Eating

  • Food Waste & Conscious Consumption

  • Resource Bag & Produce Distribution

Bring the Farm Lab Fun home with these curated resources!

THE JOURNEY OF OUR FOOD PASSPORT

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

VENTURA COUNTY FARMERS MARKETS

RECOMMENDED READING

SUPERB SOIL

WORD SEARCH

HELPING OUT THE
LITTLE GUYS