Crompond Farm Fest Celebrates its Second Year

Yorktown, NY -- Fourth and fifth graders at the Yorktown Central School District were totally engaged at the recent 2nd annual Farm Fest at Crompond School. They saw gorgeous locally-grown vegetables, tasted samples of blue-purple smoothies and helped celebrate the debut of a Pollination Garden.

The program, that has now become an annual event, is part of the school’s Farm-to-School Month starring the school’s ever-growing garden and the outdoor experience. This is designed to teach students about good nutrition and sustainability, said Principal Lori Roberts adding that the day is possible because of a collaboration of local farmers, vendors, merchants and volunteers.

In addition, the school celebrated the opening of its Pollination Garden, the planting of specific colorful and fragrant species in the Crompond garden that will attract butterflies and other pollinators who in turn help the garden flourish. The project was funded by the Yorktown Foundation for Excellence.

The school’s Garden Committee organized the morning event with help from the PTA and the Foundation for Excellence.

There were demonstrations from local farmers, nutritionists, beekeepers and chefs. Students got a chance to browse in a Farmer’s Market, ask plenty of food and farm questions, and taste healthy produce.

Deb Taft of Mobius Fields astonished the children when she told them that the pumpkin is a winter squash, not just great for pies and Halloween.

At Aramark Food Services, the food service supplier for YCSD, samples of a corn and bean salsa were handed out by Chef Robibero.

“It’s really good,” said Adrian Haxhiaj, 9, who happily finished the small cup. And Cassidy Boylan, 10, agreed. “It is a different kind of salsa.”

“We bring the students into the garden often, but particularly on this day we want to provide activities to help them understand more about their food and how to make healthy choices,” said School Nurse Elaine Goodman, an organizer of the day and Crompond’s Garden Committee member.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ralph Napolitano shed his suit jacket for a black chef’s shirt to host a booth of his own. Behind a table surrounded by students and staff he demonstrated his family’s homemade marinara sauce recipe. The sauce is made every August during the peak tomato-growing season and put into jars - hundreds of them -- to last the entire year. He also gave out samples of chopped tomatoes with mozzarella on toasted bread.

Another highlight of the morning event was the dedication of a wooden arbor donated and built by the Sichling family in memory of Brenda Sichling, a former CTA at Crompond who recently passed away. The arbor sits to the left of the outdoor classroom offering another opportunity for students and staff to enjoy this outdoor space and appreciate the Crompond garden.

“It is a peaceful and respectful place to view our garden,” Lori Roberts said. “It symbolizes what Brenda brought into our community. We thank her husband Mark and her family members who are here today.”

Check out the school’s website for more views of the day. And make sure to “Like” our page at www.facebook.com/YorktownCSD and follow us on Twitter @YorktownCSD to keep up to date on district news.