Project Food, Land and People...

The Western Reserve RC&D has adopted Project Food, Land and People as a program to promote within the nine counties it serves. Project Food, Land and People was organized in 1988 to provide educators with high-quality, balanced and easily integrated classroom materials that focus on the complexity and interdependence of agricultural, environmental, economic and cultural issues. The result was a 55 lesson agriculture education curriculum for grades K 12 written by educators.
The Western Reserve RC&D formed a committee, which includes Education Specialists from Soil and Water Conservation Districts, to promote Project Food, Land and People. The committee has created and implemented activities to utilize the curriculum.

A series of 8 classes were taught as part of an After School Program. The lessons taught students about seasons, seeds, plant life, growing food and eating healthy. Class activities included growing mini gardens, such as a “Sassy Seed” garden and a “Great Grains” garden. The classes concluded by having students make bread as part of the “Breads Around The World” lesson.

Four one day workshops called, “Farmer For A Day”, were held on a working farm. Ninety students ages 7-12 from 4 counties attended. The day’s events included a lesson on seasons and plant life, planting a mini pizza garden, taking a hayride around the farm, learning about soils and water quality, fishing, making their own lunch, feeding animals at the petting farm, milking models cows, making butter and playing harvest bingo. Each student received a goody bag full of information and items to take home.