Jones Valley Teaching Farm plans $7.58M Center for Food Education in Birmingham

Jones Valley Teaching Farm—the Birmingham-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping young students learn through hands-on, food-based lessons—is planning to build a new community learning center in downtown Birmingham. Here’s what we know about the upcoming Center for Food Education.

What is Jones Valley Teaching Farm?

• Connect: 205.453.7268 | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Vimeo | Twitter
• Address: 701 25th Street North, Birmingham, AL 35203

Since the organization’s founding in 2007, Jones Valley Teaching Farm has been dedicated to providing the opportunity to grow food as a positive learning experience for young children, pre-K-12 here in Birmingham.

Jones Valley Teaching Farm connects with local schools so young students can learn about the basics of growing their own food—this way, they have the tools to take control and experience a healthy lifestyle going forward.

You may have noticed Jones Valley Teaching Farm, located at 701 25th Street North in downtown Birmingham. In addition to this farm, Jones Valley operates farms on six local elementary, middle and high school campuses across Birmingham:

• John Herbert Phillips Academy
• Glen Iris Elementary School
• Henry J. Oliver Elementary School
• Avondale Elementary School
• W.E. Putnam Middle School 
• C.W. Hayes K-8 School
• Woodlawn High School

Meet the Jones Valley Center for Food Education

Jones Valley Teaching Farm’s newest project is the Center for Food Education, an upcoming, $7.58M mixed-use facility on Jones Valley Teaching Farm’s campus. The facility is meant as a “home base” for the organization’s outreach, as well as a permanent facility for participating students to learn and express their creativity.

According to the Birmingham Business Journal, Birmingham-based ArchitectureWorks is leading up the design of the facility, while Hoar Construction will be carrying out the construction. ArchitectureWorks previously designed Jones Valley Teaching Farm’s 1.6-acre teaching farm at Woodlawn High School.

What does this mean for Jones Valley Teaching Farm?

The upcoming Center for Food Education will essentially be “home base” for Jones Valley Teaching Farm’s operations throughout the Birmingham area. Students will be able to take classes at the facility during field trips, and the facility will be able to offer jobs to graduates of the program.

In addition to the uniqueness of a full farm in the middle of a city, the Center for Food Education will help Jones Valley Teaching Farm continue their great work of teaching young people the importance of growing their own food and leading a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

Excited to see the Center for Food Education break ground? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know your thoughts!