TOMATO DAY
April 29th, 2024SATURDAY, MAY 4th | 10AM – 2PM | 701 25th St N cooking and planting demos, Taqueria Gama food truck, yard games, local art vendors, and the chance to buy specialty tomatoes, basil, and peppers grown by JVTF that proceeds supporting our work. BUY & MAKE A BIG IMPACT Your purchase supports…
Meet The New Staff Members
April 29th, 2024BRYN LAFRENZ | ASSISTANT K-8 TEACHING FARM MANAGER Bryn (they/she) grew up in Nashville, TN where they found respite from the city in their backyard garden. They were grateful for the privilege to grow food at home and were impassioned to grow food for others who could not. Throughout their college career, they worked for…
IMPACT REPORT 2021-2022
February 6th, 20232022-2023 CLASS OF JVTF HIGH SCHOOL INTERNS
September 28th, 20222022-2023 INTERNS ANNETT 2nd year intern Annett Perez is a senior at Woodlawn High school. She is 17 years old and she’s Mexican-American. She’s from Birmingham, Alabama and her parents were born in Guerrero, México. Annett is fluent in both Spanish and English with Spanish being her first language. She’s currently working at JVTF at…
FALL 2022 | NEWSLETTER
September 27th, 2022FALL 2022 IN THIS ISSUE new school year • intern + apprentice updates • how to find our produce • volunteer shoutouts GOOD SCHOOL FOOD As we enter the 2022-2023 school year, we are reflecting on all the changes our students and instructors have navigated since 2020. In addition to the challenges that COVID-19 presented,…
BOLETÍN DE OTOÑO DE 2022
September 27th, 2022BOLETÍN DE OTOÑO DE 2022 EN ESTA EDICIÓN Cómo encontrar nuestras hortalizas • Felicitación a los voluntarios • Novedades de pasantías y aprendizaje • Phillips Academy GOOD SCHOOL FOOD A medida que nos metemos en el año escolar 2022-2023, reflexionamos sobre todos los cambios que nuestros estudiantes y maestros han atravesado desde 2020. Además…
SCOTTY FELTMAN // PORTRAITS OF JONES VALLEY TEACHING FARM
May 31st, 2022Scotty Feltman Interviewed by Mohamed Jalloh Photography by Cary Norton — In 2014, Jones Valley Teaching Farm was introduced to Scotty Feltman while he was teaching at Avondale Elementary. With his help, we saw first-hand how important and powerful hands-on learning would be for his 5th grade class. A few years later, Scotty transferred to…
MOHAMED JALLOH // PORTRAITS OF JONES VALLEY TEACHING FARM
April 14th, 2022Mohamed Jalloh Interviewed by Katie Davis Photography by Cary Norton — In 2011, Mohamed Jalloh moved from Conakry, Guinea, to Birmingham, Alabama, and began attending Woodlawn High School as a freshman. In 2014—as Jones Valley Teaching Farm began expanding our Good School Food Educational Model—Mohamed, a junior by then, was recruited with a small cohort…
MICHAEL WILSON // PORTRAITS OF JONES VALLEY TEACHING FARM
March 17th, 2022Michael Wilson Interviewed by Amanda Storey Photography by Cary Norton — When JVTF first began to dream about integrating our work at a school level, we thankfully found the force that is and would be Dr. Mike Wilson at Glen Iris Elementary. We wouldn’t be where we are today without Dr. Wilson’s leadership and willingness…
Winter Newsletters
February 18th, 2022DOWNTOWN CAMPUS APPRENTICESHIP PUTNAM MIDDLE WOODLAWN HIGH SCHOOL OLIVER ELEMENTARY HAYES K-8 GLEN IRIS ELEMENTARY AVONDALE ELEMENTARY
Katie Davis // PORTRAITS OF JONES VALLEY TEACHING FARM
February 11th, 2022Katie Davis Interviewed by Ann Laurel Latimer Photography by Cary Norton — Farming is a practice of patience, determination, vision, planning, and connection with place and people. These are just a few of the traits exemplified by our very own Katie Davis—and felt by anyone who has visited one of our 7 Teaching Farms or had the opportunity…
PORTRAITS OF JONES VALLEY TEACHING FARM
February 2nd, 2022Twenty years ago, Jones Valley Teaching Farm was started as an urban farm in Birmingham’s Southside neighborhood. Driven by the belief in the transformative act of growing food and a commitment to centering youth in our work, we have continued to evolve to create solutions to drive economic mobility, food resiliency, and healthy communities. Over…
PORTRAITS OF JONES VALLEY TEACHING FARM
January 18th, 2022Ama Ifágbàmílà’ Shambulia Interviewed by Amanda Storey Photography by Cary Norton — Twenty years ago, Jones Valley Teaching Farm was started as an urban farm in Birmingham’s Southside neighborhood. Driven by the belief in the transformative act of growing food and a commitment to centering youth in our work, we have continued to evolve to…
POLLINATION
February 5th, 2021Join Farmer Jerick and Farmer Kelly as they identify how bees help pollinate flowers and examine the role pollination plays in fertilization and reproduction of a plant! After watching the video, click here to download the lesson plan for activities and discussion questions.
FALL & WINTER | 2020-2021
January 20th, 2021FARM CLUB Fifth grade students from both Avondale Elementary and Oliver Elementary met every Tuesday and Thursday. They grew kale, lettuce, and Asian greens at home and cooked delicious meals every week. We also learned about local farms around Birmingham and the country and how their work impacts their communities. We had great conversations and…
APPRENTICE SPOTLIGHT WITH SEDRICK BURTON
November 23rd, 2020Sedrick Burton is a former JVTF Woodlawn High School Apprentice with previous farm experience and stellar customer service skills as well who returned to JVTF in January 2020 as a Graduate Apprentice. Sedrick has a deep passion for learning and will be attending college to pursue a degree in Plant Medicine. His personality lights up…
APPRENTICE SPOTLIGHT WITH GABRIELLE CAMERON
September 21st, 2020Gabrielle Cameron is a former Woodlawn High School apprentice who returned to Jones Valley Teaching Farm in February 2020 after attending Tennessee State University. She finished her first semester on the Dean’s list before returning to JVTF. Her goal is to travel to developing countries to come up with better and more efficient ways of…
SUMMER | 20
September 17th, 2020MUSCADINES & SCUPPERNONGS August in Alabama means muscadines and scuppernongs. If you’ve ever walked a dirt road in Alabama, then chances are you’ve seen these wild grape vines making their way up trees. At Avondale Elementary, they provide much needed shade to the Teaching Farm. If you’ve never had muscadines and scuppernongs, then you’re missing…
FARM CLUB BADGES | BUG DETECTIVE
May 28th, 2020To earn BUG DETECTIVE: You should be able to find and identify a number of different bugs on or around crops. Look under the leaves! Look near the flowers! Look in the soil! Look in your compost! You should be able to determine if a bug is helpful or not helpful on the farm. For example, bees and butterflies transport…
FARM CLUB BADGE | HAPPY HARVESTER
May 26th, 2020To earn HAPPY HARVESTER: You should be able to recognize when a variety of crops are ready to harvest. You might need to examine the color, size, taste, firmness, etc. of each crop to do so. You should be able to harvest a variety of crops correctly. When harvesting leafy greens (such as kale, collards, spinach, etc.) only…
FARM CLUB BADGES | RECIPE WRANGLER & FOOD CRITIC
May 21st, 2020To earn RECIPE WRANGLER: You should be able to distinguish between the list of ingredients and instructions within a recipe. You should be able to determine what materials are needed after reading through a recipe. You should be able to understand the sequence or flow of a recipe. To earn FOOD CRITIC: You should be able to use descriptive language to…
FARM CLUB BADGES | THE CULTIVATOR
May 19th, 2020To earn THE CULTIVATOR: You should be able to identify and pull weeds to keep your crops happy and healthy. Remember, a “weed” is any plant that is growing where you don’t want it to grow (i.e. too close to crops, inviting disease and stealing nutrients). When pulling weeds, be sure to remove and dispose of the entire…
FARM CLUB BADGES | WATER WIZARD
May 15th, 2020To earn WATER WIZARD: You should be able to identify the part of a plant that absorbs water (i.e. ROOTS). Remember to water near the base of your plants to be as efficient as possible. You should be able to water your plants using different methods or tools (i.e. watering can, sprinkler, soaker hose, drip tape, hose, etc.)….
FARM CLUB BADGES | MEASUREMENT MASTER
May 12th, 2020To earn MEASUREMENT MASTER: You should be able to recognize different units of measurements (e.g. pinch, teaspoon, tablespoon, cup, ounces). You should be able to distinguish wet and dry measuring utensils. When measuring dry ingredients, use the back of your knife or finger to “level” them in order to add the correct measurement of each. You should be able…
GATHER 2020
May 7th, 2020WHAT IS GATHER? Gather is an annual grassroots fundraising weekend where people gather across the city to learn about and support Jones Valley Teaching Farm’s nationally recognized food-based education model Good School Food. HOW DO I PARTICIPATE? Post a photo or video on your own Instagram/Facebook (during May 14th through the 17th) of you or…
FARM CLUB BADGES | KNIFE WHIZ & TOOL SAFETY
May 7th, 2020To earn KNIFE WHIZ: You should be able to distinguish between different types of knives and their purpose (i.e. chef, paring, serrated). You should be able to safely and effectively hold a knife to make various cuts. To hold your knife, it helps to use your index finger and thumb to grip the knife right in front of the…
FARM CLUB BADGES | THE GERMINATOR & TRANSPLANT EXPERT
May 5th, 2020To earn THE GERMINATOR: You should be able to list the basic needs of seeds (i.e. what they need to start to grow, or germinate) and provide those needs for your seeds. Air Water The perfect temperature You should be able to determine the basic planting depth for most seeds. In general, you should plant a seed in a…
AT-HOME ACTIVITIES | WORM WHISPERER
April 30th, 2020Did you know a worm has FIVE “hearts”? Use this activity to explore the anatomy of a common earthworm. Don’t forget to download the K–2nd & 3rd–5th lesson plans!
AT-HOME ACTIVITIES | SEED DISPERSAL
April 28th, 2020Have you ever seen a large tree growing by itself in an empty field and wondered how did it get there? Its seed was transported there by a process called seed dispersal! Use this lesson to explore the different ways seeds are dispersed in nature. Then put your new knowledge to work in a design…
Mohamed’s Meatball Soup
April 27th, 2020Ready in 1.5 hours | 8 servings INGREDIENTS: 1 lb. ground beef, thawed 1 onion – ½ finely diced, ½ slice 1 bell pepper – ½ finely diced, ½ sliced 1-2 green onions, thinly sliced Oil 1 cup breadcrumbs 3 bouillon cubes 1 tsp honey 2 tsp soy sauce 2 tbsp mustard Spices: onion powder, garlic…
AT-HOME ACTIVITIES | ADAPTATIONS
April 23rd, 2020Why do bees have hair on their legs? Why do chameleons change colors when they feel threatened? Explore the wild world of adaptations with this activity to find out why certain plants and animals have changed or evolved over time to better survive in their chosen habitats. Download the the lesson plan for 3rd–8th grade…
RECIPE: KALE, EGG, AND MUSHROOM QUESADILLAS
April 21st, 2020INGREDIENTS: 2-3 cups kale, cut into thin strips 2-3 mushrooms, cut into thin pieces 2 eggs 1 tbsp. garlic, minced (fresh or preserved) 1 cup cheese (mozzarella, Colby jack, etc.) 1 tbsp. olive oil 2 tortillas Salt, to taste Pepper, to taste Other seasonings, to taste (i.e. onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, etc.) DIRECTIONS: To…
AT-HOME ACTIVITIES | POLLINATOR HUNT
April 16th, 2020Spring is finally here! Beautiful flowers are blooming everywhere, which means fruit is not far behind! Use this activity to explore the world of pollinators and learn how they play a large role in getting fruit to our kitchens and seeds to our gardens. Download the lesson plan for K-2nd grade here!
AT-HOME ACTIVITIES | SOLAR OVENS
April 14th, 2020Can we, as humans, harness the power of the sun? The answer is yes! We can use the sun to our benefit in a variety of ways. Use this activity to explore the idea of leveraging the sun’s energy to design and construct a solar oven. Download the lesson plan for 3rd–5th grade!
AT-HOME ACTIVITIES | COMPOST 101: PART TWO
April 9th, 2020Where does all of our trash go? This lesson gives your student the opportunity to explore a natural way to recycle their food scraps – rather than throwing them into the trash. Combined with the book, Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth, students also get a chance to practice letter recognition…
APRIL CROP OF THE MONTH | STRAWBERRIES
April 8th, 2020AT-HOME ACTIVITIES | COMPOST 101: PART ONE
April 7th, 2020Have you ever wondered how soil is made? All soil is unique and each has a number of different ingredients. Healthy soil (or soil that is rich in nutrients for plants) has a specific combination of inorganic and organic matter. Use the activity below to learn how to create your own nutrient-rich soil and reduce…
WE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW FOOD | OUR PROTOCOL
April 6th, 2020We have developed strict protocols for our staff to follow so that we can safely continue to grow and harvest fresh food for our community. Jones Valley Teaching Farm will continue to do the important work of growing food on all seven Teaching Farms for as long as we are allowed. As staff, your individual…
AT-HOME ACTIVITIES | SOIL ADVENTURES PART 2 (K-5)
April 2nd, 2020Did you know that soil can be many different colors? Use this activity to explore the soil right below your feet in your backyard. After collecting a few soil samples, work with your student to turn them into paint and create a beautiful soil masterpiece. Download the lesson plan here.
AT-HOME ACTIVITIES | RECYCLED PLANTERS
April 1st, 2020How can we preserve the natural resources that add so much to our daily lives? It’s important to understand the difference between nonrenewable and renewable resources and how we interact with them each day. By using the “Three R’s” (reduce, reuse, recycle), you can play a role in conserving the resources we need to survive!…
AT-HOME ACTIVITIES | SOIL ADVENTURES PART 1 (6-12)
March 31st, 2020Have you ever wondered how some plants grow on a sandy beach? Different plants prefer different types of soil texture. We can test our own soil texture to know what plants would grow well or how to improve the soil for planting. All it takes is scooping a soil sample into a jar, shaking it…
WINTER | 20
March 27th, 2020RAINBOW RATATOUILLE: PreK students learned the importance of eating colorful foods to ensure they have the necessary nutrients to be happy, healthy, and strong. Using ingredients from all the colors of the rainbow, students helped prepare a ratatouille by slicing orange and purple carrots, and tearing green and purple kale. STONE SOUP: This winter, 2nd Grade…
AT-HOME ACTIVITIES | COLORS ABOUND (K–5)
March 26th, 2020With March 20th marking the first full day of Spring, a larger array of colors are brightening up our world with flowers, insects, leaves, and more! This activity encourages students to look closely at our natural environment by searching for specific colors through a scavenger hunt. Here you can download a lesson plan for K–2nd…
MARCH CROP OF THE MONTH | SPINACH
March 24th, 2020COVID-19 RESOURCES & UPDATES
March 18th, 2020In light of the current events and developments surrounding COVID-19, Jones Valley Teaching Farm has suspended all programming including: Good School Food, open volunteer hours, and our production internship. We are currently working with city agencies and other non-profits to share helpful information as it relates to food accessibility in our community. We will continue…
MEET JESSICA & HANA!
March 3rd, 2020Meet Jessica and Hana! Jessica, our Downtown Campus Farm Manager, pursued a degree and career in sustainable agriculture because she wanted to do something positive for our environment and the people in it. Jessica joined Jones Valley Teaching Farm in 2016. Hana, our Assistant Farm Manager, holds a degree in Environmental Science with a focus…
PRODUCTION INTERNSHIP
February 11th, 2020POSITION DESCRIPTION The Production Internship is an opportunity for a select number of participants to learn and practice a variety of skills related to urban farming and small scale mixed vegetable production. You can learn more about our work at jvtf.org. Our Farmers work hard to be both efficient and experimental with our farming practices…
FEBRUARY CROP OF THE MONTH | BROCCOLI
February 3rd, 2020MEET JOSIAH!
January 30th, 2020Meet Josiah! Josiah Tellis is a senior at Woodlawn High School. He joined the High School Apprenticeship program at Jones Valley Teaching Farm in August 2019. During his freshman year, he was known for wearing a backpack the whole time he attended Farm Club. Once at Farm Club where they cooked egg roll bowls, Josiah…
MEET KELLY, MOHAMED, & NENE
January 23rd, 2020Meet the Woodlawn High School team! Mohamed was involved in the creation of the Teaching Farm before graduating from Woodlawn High School (WHS) in 2015. In August of 2015, he began his role as Farm Manager for the WHS Teaching Farm and continues to excel in that role. He also leads our paid internship program…