Farm to School Program

….has proven to be in high demand with our youth, parents, school staff and community members. 88% of our students in our fall farm to school program reported trying NEW vegetables. 70% reported liking a fresh vegetable that they previously thought they disliked. 62% reported “liking” or “LOVING” fresh salad.

All 5th and 6th grade students in Ishpeming participate in 28 weeks of experiential, hands-on Farm-to-School education during the school year. During the program students learn the importance of fresh food from seed to table including 8 weeks of healthy cooking, in partnership with MARESA and Marquette Food CO-OP, that culminates with student created recipes being implemented school wide into the cafeteria.

With all this success and momentum we are thrilled to share that Partridge Creek Farm, thanks to Michigan Health Endowment Fund, MDARD, and Superior Health Foundation will be breaking ground on a 3.75 acre Community Care Farm next to Ishpeming Middle/ High School and the Jasperlite Senior Housing in Summer 2022. This site will be the foundation of an elevated and expanded Farm-to-School and Ag CarTech program, in partnership with Ishpeming School District.  Partridge Creek Farm will also focus on growing and providing year-round access to fresh,  affordable, and culturally relevant food.  To do this we will utilize season extension, preservation, indoor growing, storage crops, and other innovative technologies.

We have had amazing community partners who have helped plan this unique project including: The City of Ishpeming, UPEA, MARESA, Ishpeming Public School District No. 1, MSU Extension, NMU, MiSTEM, Marquette County Conservation District, Chartwells Food Distribution, GA HAAN, Jasperlite Senior Housing, UP Food Exchange, and more..

A special thanks to Lindberg & Sons and Eagle Mine for being our first (of hopefully many) corporate sponsors.

And an extra special thank you to all our Ishpeming Community Members and Students who have shared their voices and have helped make this vision a reality for Ishpeming. Keep an eye out for workshops, tours, delicious food, and more in 2023.