The Farm’s School Garden Wraps Up a Productive Year

The Hunger Task Force Farm is more than just a space for growing fresh cultural produce for the community – it’s a living classroom. Through the Garden-to-Plate program, students from local inner-city schools experienced the full cycle of food production in the School Garden. They participated in activities ranging from planting tiny seeds in the spring to harvesting vibrant vegetables in the summer. This hands-on tool is crucial for teaching young people about MyPlate nutrition, agriculture and the importance of fresh, healthy foods.

This year, the School Garden produced an impressive yield of over 650 pounds. Among the bounty were familiar favorites like tomatoes, carrots and lettuce, as well as culturally relevant options such as Thai basil, napa cabbage and Bok choy. These ingredients became the foundation for delicious, nutritious meals as students took their harvest from the garden to the kitchen, learned valuable cooking skills and experienced the joy of preparing food from scratch.

The continued success and growth of the Garden-to-Plate program is made possible through the dedicated partnership of local schools, classroom teachers and our team at Hunger Task Force. The Child Nutrition Educator, Community Dietitian and SNAP-Ed farmer work closely with these young learners, providing guidance and education that extends beyond the garden. Dozens of volunteers also lend their time and energy to tending to the garden and chaperone school groups to make each visit to The Farm a safe and enriching experience.

The School Garden may be resting now, but the seeds of knowledge and nutrition sown this year will continue to grow and flourish in the minds and hearts of the students who visited.

The Hunger Task Force Farm’s School Garden grew a diverse array of produce this season. The vegetable section featured beans, beets, bok choy, carrots, choi sum, cucamelons, cucumbers, Italian eggplant, ground cherries, jalapeno peppers, kale, lettuce, napa cabbage, okra, onions, pumpkins, purple peppers, radishes, sugar ann peas, sugar snap peas, and Thai eggplant. For herbs, there were basil, cilantro, dill, lemongrass, and Thai basil. The flower beds included dahlias, marigolds, nasturtiums, sunflowers, and zinnias. Additionally, the garden produced sweet melon (sugar cube) among its fruits.

Hunger Task Force is Milwaukee’s Free & Local food bank and Wisconsin’s anti-hunger leader. The organization’s core values are Dignity, Justice, Equity, Compassion and Stewardship. Hunger Task Force feeds people today by providing healthy and culturally appropriate food to hungry children, families and seniors in the community absolutely free of charge. Hunger Task Force also works to end future hunger by advocating for strong public policies and nutrition programs at the local, state and federal level.