Urban farm brings kids full circle with food they eat

Full Circle Farm in Sunnyvale

Karina Rusk
December 21, 2009
KGO-TV San Franscisco

SUNNYVALE, CA (KGO) — Hands on learning for school kids is nothing new, but in Silicon Valley amid all the high-tech companies and housing development, there is something you do not see a lot of in the Bay Area anymore — a farm. It is giving kids a whole new appreciation for what they eat.

Full Circle Farm in Sunnyvale is an independent non-profit organization. It is a rare working farm in the heart of Silicon Valley, but it is also an outdoor classroom for a new generation of gardeners.

“I really like farming, being in the sunshine and having fun,” said student Cindy Lenhu.

When Full Circle broke ground two years ago, part of its mission was to create an outdoor learning center for nearby Peterson Middle School.

“This farm is really an opportunity for us to reconnect kids with their food, you know, where does your food come from? How does that happen?” said Rebecca Jepsen, ex-director of Full Circle Farm.

Sixth grade students at Peterson explore the answers to those questions in a semester-long course. The kids immerse themselves in planting, mulching and harvesting, but if you watch and listen, the farming experience is all about life sciences, the environment and healthy eating.

“We learned a lot about worms and we even got to touch them and examine them and write about them in our farm journals,” said student Tiffany Wang.

“I learned how composting is done and that worms are a big, big help in making soil fertilized,” said student Ilyas Kamil.

“We’re learning about the eco systems and the cycle of life,” said student Niharika Bhat.

The innovative program is just a small part of the Full Circle operation, but it is so successful there are plans to expand it to include more students. After all, the non-profit leases the land from the school district.

The 11-acre plot of land was not set aside lightly. At a time when school funding is constantly being cut, the district seriously considered selling the property for development.

See the complete story here.