NEW: Jones Valley Teaching Farm to launch Center of Food Education this spring

Jones Valley Teaching Farm (JVTF), a collaborative effort to teach students real-life farming experiences, will open its Center of Food Education in spring 2022. Currently, the center is open for private events and will later host a grand opening in the spring when their student programs start. Read more to see why it matters.

A fresh start

Have you ever wanted your kids to learn about the benefits of eating smart and healthy? Thanks to Jones Valley Teaching Farm, they now have a space for learning all things produce, farming and cooking.

The Center for Food Education will be Birmingham’s hub for academic exploration of food. The center will be a place where students can find their path to jobs in food, farming and the culinary arts. That’s rad-ish.

“The Center for Food Education will be a place to gather and teach, experience and celebrate, and grow—quite literally—together as a community. I’m thrilled to share our work with a larger audience and to have a place we can call home as we build our organization and our city’s future.”

Amanda Storey, Executive Director of Jones Valley Teaching Farm

What to expect from JVTF

You can expect all types of fun and educational field trips at the Center for Food Education. Your kids will get to experience Good School Food instructions and an amazing culinary program. There are even lesson plans for teachers.

FUN FACT: By participating in Jones Valley Teaching Farm, students have increased job opportunities.

So where is the Center? You’ll find it on JVTF’s three-acre city block in downtown Birmingham. The building embraces sunshine with floor-to-ceiling windows, so students can watch the food grow while in the classroom. There’s even a huge gathering space with a Pavillion with the best view of the gardens.

Apart from the pavilion are three wings.

1. Education and admin
2. Farm wing (serves as food storage and space for volunteers)
3. Community wing (home to JVTF’s farm stand, a pay-as-you-can donation-based model)

How it happened

Thanks to the support of Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation and many other donors, the Center for Food Education has been brought to life. Sprouts donated a total of $300K to fund JVTF, so students can learn healthy food habits.

“This generous grant will allow Jones Valley Teaching Farm to continue its work in the community while lifting up the organization and providing the resources needed for continued growth.”

Amanda Storey, Executive Director of Jones Valley Teaching Farm

BONUS: JVTF also launched its annual giving campaign on November 22. Support their campaign—it helps them keep their operations running so future generations know how to eat healthily.

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