Farm to {Cafeteria} Table
Guidestone Colorado is a locally operated, non-profit organization growing a vibrant local food economy in the Arkansas River Valley and throughout Colorado. Guidestone, through education, community building, and partnerships, cultivates an educational environment increasing agricultural awareness, connection, and literacy.
Supporting local and state-wide development of new producers, both large and small scale, and the preservation of active agricultural practices, Guidestone serves everyone from farmers to educators, children and adults alike.
Guidestone’s Farm to School Initiative supports the education and action of growing and eating local, healthy foods in our schools to foster interest and a pallet for local kids. The Farm to School initiative provides Salida School District cafeterias thousands of pounds of food grown in Salida and by Salidans, including elementary, middle and high school students. Fostering educational opportunities and school curriculum connections that correlated to state education standards and healthy living.
Photo Credit: Guidestone / Salida School Children at the Holman Garden
The Salida School Gardens, including the Holman site garden, managed by Guidestone, which includes just under an acre of production area on Salida School District land that is home to an orchard, raised and in-ground beds, a tool shed, a poly-house and long production rows. The full 4-acre site is fenced and primed and ready for further expansion.
Just under 3,000 lbs. of garden produce has been incorporated into district meals since the beginning of the program. Produce is also sold through local markets, forming sustainable practices. Additionally, the garden is used as an outdoor classroom for many hands-on, experiential, environmental education-based learning opportunities with the Salida School District and greater community.
Since 2010, Guidestone has been working with the local school district, LiveWell Chaffee County and the Southwest Conservation Corps to develop the Salida School Gardens: Healthy Food, Healthy Growing, Garden to Cafeteria Program, a model for food production and education integration into the schools that can be replicated throughout the Arkansas River Valley and shared with other rural communities throughout the state.
Photo Credit: Guidestone / Holman Garden Site