FRANKLIN PIERCE SD — The Franklin Pierce School District owns a farm on the corner of 95th and Waller Road in the Waller community.
In 2007, the Summit Waller Community Association approached District administration with a request that the District rehabilitate the program and make better use of the farm property. Since that meeting, both the Community Association and School District have been working together to grow a fruits and vegetables program.
This year, the program hit a new record of success. The fall 2012 harvest produced over one ton of fruits and vegetables that were served in school lunches throughout the District. High school students planted the crops in late spring, after they used math and science skills to choose their crops, design the beds, build and install irrigation, and plant.
Students participating in a summer school course through the Pierce County Skills Center learned how to maintain and care for the crops during the summer months, and 5th graders from Midland Elementary harvested the fruits and vegetables. The entire bounty was delivered to the District’s Nutrition Services Dept., where the produce was cleaned, prepared, and finally served in school lunches throughout the District. Totals are as follows:
- Potatoes: 1,110 lbs.
- Apples (various): 923 lbs.
- Beans: 91 lbs.
- Tomatoes: 159.5 lbs.
- Corn: 122 lbs.
- Pears (various): 228 lbs.
After the fall harvest, winter crops consisting of winter lettuce, carrots, radishes, and garlic will be grown.
Contact Sly Boskovich, Assistant Director for CTE, for further information: sboskovich@fpschools.org
Pierce Prairie Post 