WESTMINSTER, Vt. – As the result of a nearly year-long grant application process, Kurn Hattin Home and School for Children was recently awarded a $24,495 Farm to School and Early Childhood grant from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. The funds will be used to create a student-led garden and community supported agricultural (CSA) program on the school’s property.
Established in 1894, Kurn Hattin Home once operated as a full-time working farm, creating a longstanding relationship with Vermont’s agricultural heritage dating back to its origins. This newly state-funded initiative will introduce a new, modern approach to hands-on learning and will reimagine agricultural engagement to align with today’s educational model.
“Agriculture has always been part of Kurn Hattin’s story,” Executive Director Sue Kessler said recently. “Now, our children will once again experience the pride that comes from planting a seed, nurturing it, and sharing the harvest. It’s hands-on learning that builds confidence, responsibility to the land, and connection to the community.”
Later in the winter season, select student cottages will start growing seeds indoors and then transplant them into newly designed gardens the following spring. Students will take part in every aspect of the growing process, including designing the gardens and selecting the crops, and helping with the planting, harvesting, and final packaging of the produce.
As the program progresses, more student cottages will be brought into participation. A main feature of the program will be the creation of CSA baskets filled with student-grown fruit, vegetables, herbs, and recipe suggestions. The baskets will be shared within cottages and sent home to families and throughout the community.
Additionally, students will also be traveling off campus to visit local farms, in order to see firsthand how food is properly grown, harvested, and prepared by other successful, professional farm businesses.
This garden project allows the longstanding institution to honor its heritage and past accomplishments, while also developing the modern equipment and techniques necessary to successfully carry these traditions into the future.
The priorities of the grant fall right in line with the principles fostered by Vermont Farm to School, such as promoting health and wellness, enriching educational experiences, and fortifying positive connections between schools and their communities. Currently, four local farms have chosen to participate and provide guidance, as well as to host future student visits.
“This is about more than growing vegetables,” Kessler concluded. “It’s about growing skills, curiosity, and opportunity. It’s another way to help children see what’s possible.”
To learn more or to inquire about being a volunteer, please visit www.kurnhattin.org or call the development office at 802-721-6916.