The Princeton Montessori Farm to School program is in its 7th year. The purpose of the program is to connect students to the land, have them learn about where food comes from and gain awareness of healthier food choices, and become stewards of their local environment. The Lower Elementary students recently visited Marchese Family Farm. The excitement began with the journey on the School bus itself.
Andrew Marchese welcomed the class to his lovely farm on a glorious Fall day. After talking about what he grew on the farm, how he cared for the soil, and how important it was to plant at the right time and in the right place for each plant, he did a practical demonstration about the importance of soil cover to avoid erosion. The students were fascinated! They were then able to participate in planting garlic and saw how kale was harvested. They really enjoyed getting their hands dirty. 
The highlight of the visit was feeding the chickens and Charlie, the Shetland pony, followed by meeting Andrews two adorable Collies, Roxie, and Doris. It was a wonderful introduction to a working farm for our students, something that they will become increasingly familiar with in their coming years at PMonts.
