CHIMACUM — High school students got a special lunchtime treat when they were served salad, cheese and bread that originated from the area.
“Today, the kids got a taste of what grows in the soil that they walk on,” said Heather Graham, the facilitator for Citizens for Local Food, a volunteer action group, last Thursday.
“We are trying to connect them to Chimacum by having them eat something that grows here, and we wanted to introduce them to the farmers in this area and let them know what’s going on around them.”
About 200 students were served lunch, although the regular cafeteria remained open, and some students had two lunches, said Principal Whitney Meissner.
The school’s common area was turned into a farmers market, encircled by nine booths staffed by farmers and educators.
Students could purchase some items such as plant starts, but the primary purpose was to allow them to meet farmers, Meissner said.
“We wanted to connect the farmers with the schools,” she said.
“We have lots of graduates who are active farmers, and we want the kids to know that farming is still a way of life and a key part of our school community.”
“The kids can look at agricultural science as an integrated part of their education,” said WSU Extension Director Laura Lewis.
“It’s good to see them connect with local farmers not only for their education but as an employment opportunity as well.”
“We don’t expect this will change anything,” Graham said of the inaugural event.
“We just want people to be happy they had a yummy lunch, be happy they live in a place that grows food and maybe be curious in getting involved in the food industry in the future.”
Meissner said she’d like to present similar events in the future, not necessarily a full-fledged farmers market but a place where students can purchase and enjoy one variety of locally grown food.
This dovetails with making better use of the school’s greenhouse.
“I’d like to see if we can teach kids how to prepare organic meals,” she said.
“A few years down the road, I’d like us to get a [U.S. Department of Agriculture] permit to start growing quality produce in our greenhouse.”
Stereotypically finicky teenager eating habits were not apparent during the meal.
Many of them enjoyed the menu, which even included some flowers.
“I love salads,” said junior Sophia Thurston, 17.
“I could eat them all the time.”
Meissner doesn’t think her students are especially fussy.
“Sometimes, a teenager will eat what you put in front of them,” she said.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.