The impact of hands-on food-based education is clear.

“Like a mentorship, you learn basic life skills and working skills. You have people teaching you and guiding you along the way. They’re teaching you things you normally wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn. Working on the WHS teaching farm has helped me feel more connected to the land. As a black urban farmer, I feel empowered, and this is something that can never be taken away.“

— Sedrick Burton, Woodlawn High School Field Manager, Former JVTF Apprentice

“As a result of my son’s activity with Good School Food, he has discovered an interest in gardening, learned the importance of agriculture, developed his marketing and entrepreneurial instincts, learned more about conservation, and contributed to the development of an on-site greenhouse. I’m certain he has learned skills that he will utilize for a lifetime.”

— Cyrenthia Linton, Parent of Good School Food Student

“The farm is not just about food. It is about teaching. It is about investing. It’s about pouring in and giving back, and it’s about growth and maturity for our youngest generation. I can tell you that Jones Valley Teaching Farm has a very promising place in Birmingham’s growth and future.”

— Randall L. Woodfin, Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama

“Bringing ancient world history to life for 13-year-olds is an incredible challenge, to say the least, but the Good School Food Instructors were able to turn the teaching farm into an exciting outdoor classroom where students literally used all five senses to learn about one of the most crucial changes in human history. The impact this lesson had on students could be measured in both quantitative as well as qualitative data. The experience had a strong correlation to students’ overall understanding of the content, and student reflections illustrated personal growth and enjoyment in the learning process.”

— John Mark Edwards, 8th Grade Teacher at Phillips Academy

“There’s a need for the Jones Valley Teaching Farm model of education, with its outdoor classroom, outdoor involvement tied to the curriculum, in Charlotte. It’s so important the way JVTF has a constant presence at the schools, and Charlotte has the potential to impact students in our 176 schools with this. The JVTF model is outstanding and creates an internal support network that benefits schools without them taking on the burden. Every chance I get, I always turn the conversation to the work JVTF is doing.”

— Jody Francisco, Manager of Culinary Development, Community Partnerships, and Family Engagement, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools