Ellis Early Learning awarded a $25,000 grant to start a farm-to-school project for mainstream preschoolers in Jamaica

Last updated on May 12, 2024

Ellis Early Learning has received a $25,000 Massachusetts Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health (MA FRESH) grant to create a farm-to-school initiative to grow local food and promote food literacy and nutrition education among kindergarten students in Jamaica Plain.

“We hope the positive impacts of this program extend beyond the classroom, making nutritious food and healthy eating habits more accessible to both Ellis students and their families,” said Lauren Cook, CEO of Ellis Early Learning. “We expect that early introduction to basic food concepts will lead to better health outcomes as children grow and develop, as well as increase their understanding of the benefits and opportunities of sustainable agriculture in their own communities.”

Ellis is using the grant from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to partner with Green City Growers of Somerville to expand already existing garden space, provide more engaging hands-on education and improve irrigation systems.

Green City Growers will work with classrooms in their outdoor gardens to implement developmentally appropriate activities through an interdisciplinary education model that embraces social-emotional learning and focuses on play-based education in accordance with Ellis’ learning model.

The food grown in Ellis’ garden will be consumed by the students and sent home to their families. Ellis provides breakfast, lunch and a snack to all students every school day, accounting for more than 80 percent of their daily nutritional intake. The meal program offers students a variety of foods each week to introduce them to new foods while maintaining the balanced diet that all children need.

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