Massaro Community Farm Begins Hosting School Field Trips

Massaro Community Farm will welcome second graders from Ansonia’s Mead Elementary School Friday, May 10^th as part of a new school field trip program at the farm. This will be the second of two days of Mead School students will visit the farm this spring.

This marks a turning point in the development of educational programming at Massaro Community Farm. Entering its fourth season of offering Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares, the farm is working to become a place where the community comes to unwind, get dirty and have fun. More importantly, visitors will experience the farm as an exciting place to explore, and to discover how people, food, and the environment are interconnected.

In addition to Mead School, fourth graders from Prendergast School have also visited the farm in the last two weeks. During a typical visit, classes are divided up and visit stations where they participate in lessons on the life cycle of a plant and types of soils. Students also receive a tour to understand the importance of the different areas of the farm, and are invited to enjoy a lunch or snack in our picnic area.

While lessons for second and fourth graders were developed to satisfy state curriculum criteria, older students are also encouraged to get involved. Later this month, for the third year in a row, qualifying high school seniors from Amity High School will participate in a month-long internship during which they work directly under our farm manager in all aspects of farming. In May, students from Ansonia High School and Emmett O’Brien Technical School will also tour the farm, participate in planting and harvesting, and walk the farm’s Nature Trail. On June 11, juniors from the Emmett O’Brien culinary program will prepare food using vegetables from the farm’s first harvest and we encourage visitors to stop by between 2:30pm and 6:30pm, sample the fare and say hello.

"I'm so excited to get these kids out of the classroom," said Chef Heather Priest, head of EOB's culinary program. "Most of these kids only know restaurants when it comes to food. I want them to see where the food comes from."

Another educational opportunity at the farm will be a half-day summer camp for 6-9-year-olds offered during the weeks of August 5 and 12. But Massaro Community Farm doesn’t limit its programming to those under 18. In conjunction with its beekeeping workshops, the farm is offering an organic land care series for adults this season. This series includes sessions on growing and cultivating herbs, the importance of pollinators, and planting an edible landscape.

“I am so pleased that so many volunteers and organizations are eager to work with us,” said newly appointed Executive Director Caty Poole. “Massaro Farm presents a unique opportunity for the community to support local, diversified farming, and for folks to explore, play and understand their role and impact on our environment. We really hope the farm will become a destination place for Lower Valley and Greater New Haven residents.”

Massaro Community Farm is a non-profit farm on a 57-acre parcel of land in Woodbridge, Connecticut, 15 minutes northwest of New Haven. Our mission is to keep farming, feed people, and build community. Our vision is to enhance the quality of life for our community for generations to come.  More information, along with a list of community partners and a detailed calendar of events, can be found on our website: www.massarofarm.org.