Students at Auburn Union's Alta Vista Charter enjoy the fruits of their labor

Over the years, the generosity of the Auburn community created a school culinary lab, garden and orchard at Alta Vista Community Charter School, in the Auburn Union School District. During the 2014-15 school year, student Mason Partak led a fundraising effort that resulted in the addition of a school culinary lab. During the 2020-21 school year, local businesses Raley's and Green Acres Nursery at Eisley's and a team of volunteers planted an on-campus orchard and revived the school garden. Those two community efforts have now aligned to give students the experience of harvesting produce from the school site, preparing it and eating it, all within an enrichment class. The goal of these efforts is to support the health and wellness of students. Students are also learning where food comes from and the steps involved in growing and preparing food. Third-graders at Alta Vista recently harvested potatoes they planted last school year. They then prepared a simple breakfast potato recipe in the school culinary lab. Students had the opportunity to taste what they grew and prepared. First-grade students harvested stone fruit from the orchard, including peaches, plums, nectarines, Asian pears and figs. Students then prepared the fruit to eat and did a taste test; they also made fruit, yogurt and granola parfaits. The produce harvested by these classes was then prepared and consumed by Alta Vista students for the rest of the school day. Studies suggest children are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables if they are home (or school) grown, and this project aims to increase access and exposure to a variety of healthy foods. "The addition of gardens in our schools has enhanced hands-on learning in all subjects for our students. We love seeing smiling faces and even some students excited to eat their vegetables for the first time," said AUSD Superintendent Amber Lee-Alva. Thank you, Auburn community, for making this project-based learning opportunity available to our students. The project is successful thanks to a team of volunteers from the school community, the Alta Vista staff and The Bucks Booster Club.