Placing Learners, Agriculture, and Nature Together Sustainably
CCUA’s PLANTS Program engages learners of all ages in hands-on experiences that emphasize the connection between food, health, and the environment. The PLANTS Program experiences take many forms and engage all ages in hands-on experiential learning to develop a deeper understanding of the social, cultural, environmental and economic impact of food on our communities. School, civic, and community groups can learn about the connection between food, health and the environment through our diverse garden space. We hope to empower and inspire learners to take skills acquired through the PLANTS Program and implement them in their homes, schools or workplaces.
Groups can get involved in a number of ways:
Tour the Urban Farm
An Urban Farm Tour offers a glimpse into the role that CCUA plays in the local food system. Groups will learn about the agroecology of an Urban Farm emphasizing how soil, plants, animals and people interact in our unique space. Some highlights of the tour are our passive solar greenhouse, permanent bed system, caterpillar tunnel, rain garden, compost, chicken coop, and the Outdoor Classroom.
Tours are given from Tuesday – Friday 9:00-12:00 and 2:00-4:00 and last approximately 60 minutes. Reservations are required and the cost is $40.00.
Please schedule at least 3 weeks in advance to ensure that we can accommodate your group. To schedule a basic tour of the Urban Farm please contact CCUA’s PLANTS Program Manager, Lori McCurdy at lori@columbiaurbanag.org or by phone at (573) 514-4174. We look forward to seeing you!
Urban Farm Field Trips and Off-Farm Lessons
Field trips and lessons can take place at the Urban Farm or at your site. They are hands on, interactive experiences that give learners of all ages an opportunity to connect their classroom knowledge to the natural world around them. Field trips and lessons are available for school groups, community organizations, church groups, etc.
Field trips include an introduction to the farm and a farm tour, along with educational activities. Some of our most popular lessons can be found below.
Biology on your Plate: Curious about how plants grow and how we use them? This could be the right topic for you. This lesson explores basic plant structure and function, as well as discussing parts of the plants we eat.
Under your Feet: Many people will argue that good food starts with good soil. This lesson will get into what makes up good soil and how it’s made, along with discussions and explorations of soil and compost.
Go with the Flow: We all live downstream. This lesson will focus on what that means and how it affects us all. Topics discussed are water sheds, pollution, erosion, and the water cycle.
Roots and Blooms: You can trace civilization back to the advent of agriculture. In this lesson we’ll explore how the two are tied together by looking at food origins and food miles.
Everybody Eats: At CCUA we have a saying; Food is good. We also understand that food isn’t a fad, it’s here to stay. We all must eat to stay healthy, and unfortunately not everyone has access to good food. In this activity concepts of food insecurity and poverty are discussed at all levels of our society, from neighborhood to planet.
Backyard Biodiversity: Take a look at a standard yard and many people will only see grass, but even in a small space of a grass lawn you would be shocked at the variety of life that exists. This lesson will help us understand the importance of biodiversity, how plants and animals interact with each other, and how we fit into it all.
What’s the Buzz: Did you know that 1/3 of all our food exists thanks to pollinators like bees and butterflies? We’ll learn that and much more about our pollinating friends in the garden, including how to help and protect them, with this lesson.
Please schedule at least 3 weeks in advance to ensure that we can accommodate your group. To schedule a lesson at the Urban Farm please complete our Urban Farm Field Trip Request. To schedule a lesson at your site, please complete our PLANTS Off-Farm Lesson Request. To cover our costs we charge a fee of $7 per student, if this is a burden inquire with our staff about the availability of grant funding to cover these costs.
If you have any questions or concerns about scheduling your group for a PLANTS Lesson, please contact CCUA’s PLANTS Program Manager, Lori McCurdy at lori@columbiaurbanag.org or by phone at (573) 514-4174. We look forward to working with you!
Want to Get Involved?
As a participant: Schedule a tour or lesson by contacting Lori McCurdy at lori@columbiaurbanag.org or by phone at (573) 514-4174.
As a volunteer: Visit our volunteer page to learn more about volunteering with CCUA.
Thank you to our funders….
