News

Historic Johnson Farm receives $50k grant for 'RootEd in Food & Farm'

Young children visit Historic Johnson Farm.

By Lightning Reports, Published: August 1, 2024

The USDA's Farm to School program has awarded Historic Johnson Farm a $50,000 grant to boost an education program for eighth graders in Henderson County public schools.

Nationwide, the program awarded 154 grants this year; Historic Johnson Farm was one of only two grant recipients in the state of North Carolina.

The grant will create a rare opportunity for Henderson County Public Schools teachers. For the next two years, small groups of eighth grade teachers will spend time at Historic Johnson Farm and other farm sites, designing some of their classroom lesson plans so they can be taught as hands-on projects at the farm. Teachers will receive training and coaching support from statewide educational consulting company, Constructive Learning Design. During the year-long experience, the students will also come to the Farm and test-drive the lesson plans their teachers have developed.

“This grant is so great because it will create a lot of opportunities for HPCS students, especially students who are a little older, to come and learn here on the Farm.” HJF Executive Director Mandy Gibson said in a news release.

Titled “RootEd in Food and Farm,” the project is a partnership between Historic Johnson Farm, Henderson County Public Schools and Constructive Learning Design. HJF also would like to thank UNC Asheville’s Office of Postsecondary Planning and Preparation for their support and technical assistance in making this opportunity possible for HCPS teachers and students.

Historic Johnson Farm, at 3346 Haywood Road, features 15 acres of forest, fields and streams, 10 historic structures, animals and picnic tables. The farm was a gift to schoolchildren and the community by the late Vernon and Leander Johnson.