Ronnell
Wright, an eighth grader at Ferguson Middle School, is a KIND Club
member. He’s a Kid In Nature’s Defense.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>As part of the afterschool club, he handles the school’s recycling and learns how to care for the environment. This summer, he took his role a step further and studied organic farming at the nonprofit EarthDance’s summer camp.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The problem, for Wright, was it only lasted a week.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Not to be greedy or anything, but I wish it could have been longer,” Wright said.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The camp, which hosted 10 teens, took place at the century-old Mueller Organic Farm in Ferguson. It’s less than one mile from Wright’s school, but he had never been there before.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Last year, the KIND Club leader, Nancy Schnell, spent nine months in EarthDance’s apprentice program.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I had never grown food before,” said Schnell, a retired science teacher of 37 years from the Ferguson-Florissant School District.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I was totally amazed by what I experienced,” she said. “The one thought that came to me was we have to connect our youth in Ferguson to the farm.”
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>After getting approval from EarthDance founding director, Molly Rockamann, Schnell set off to gain support for a summer farming camp from the City of Ferguson and the school district.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The support from both was overwhelming, she said.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Wright and many other students who participated said they now have a new interest in farming.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I liked being out here farming, being able to pick plants and learning how to cook new foods with fresh veggies,” said Torrian Collins, age 14 and a McCluer High School student.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I thought I wasn’t going to have any fun. I thought maybe because I was going to be all sweaty and dirty. But when I got out here and started sweating and having fun, I really enjoyed it.”
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“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Since 2009, EarthDance has operated a season-long educational apprenticeship program. Founded in Ferguson, EarthDance is a non-profit with a mission to “grow and inspire local FARMS – Food, Art, Relationships & Music, Sustainably.”
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>And educating the youth about where food comes from is an important part of sustainability, Rockamann said.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“For the kids, it teaches them the importance of farming because it’s healthier, and it’s just a good environment,” said camp counselor Bryan Scott, age 16 and a McCluer-South Berkeley High School student.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>It was the first time that almost all of the teens had been on a farm, he said.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>One activity that really brought the students together was cooking and eating their lunches together, Schnell said. In the home-economics room at Ferguson Middle School, they cooked stir-fry, pizzas and pasta using vegetables they picked from the farm.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“We would all sit at one table in family-style, and we would bless all the hands that brought food to table,” she said. “In one week’s time, everybody bonded and enjoyed being together.”
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>City leaders and particularly the district’s new superintendent, Art J. McCoy II, did everything they could to support her efforts, Schnell said. Next year, she aims to extend the program.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I think Dr. McCoy has the ability to see a really great opportunity for our kids,” she said. “We could not have had a camp if Dr. McCoy hadn’t supported this idea. It takes courage to open the door to a new idea.”
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