Farm to School of Shumei Santa Cruz Farm

At Shumei Santa Cruz Farm we believe it is critical to instill knowledge about how to make healthy food choices early in a child’s life. We believe children should understand and feel their intimate connection to nature, agriculture and the food they consume. Garden-based learning involves not only basic knowledge of what a vegetable looks like in its natural surroundings, but also includes; Art, Music, History, Language and Health. However our primary goal is to help them understand the Natural Agriculture philosophy.

We share the principle of respect for nature, based on the perception that consciousness guides all life processes, that this consciousness extends to all that grows and that plants are conscious living entities. Through our program students receive classroom presentations on Natural Agriculture and how to make healthy food choices. More importantly, students visit the farm and receive a Natural Agriculture presentation, either plant or harvest a vegetable, and are reminded how to feel and interact with Nature using all six senses: sight, touch, smell, taste, hearing and especially their intuition.

Across the USA and in many advanced, industrialized nations, childhood and adult obesity is now an epidemic. Other diseases, such as diabetes and cancer, are also now near epidemic levels in children and adults alike. Over the past 100 years, as food became more commercialized, highly processed and now travels long distances to reach the consumer, the quality and nutritional content in food has declined. People are more disconnected from Nature than ever before and no longer possess knowledge of where their food comes from, how it is grown or the stories behind the people, cultures or locales where it is grown. Small family farms, once the norm, are becoming rare in the United States and other parts of the world. Thankfully more and more people are aware of our separation from the natural world and are taking steps to reunite with nature.

At Shumei Santa Cruz Farm we believe the answer lies in educating future generations about: the Natural Agriculture philosophy, how to make healthy food choices, fresh versus processed, canned or boxed food, where their food comes from, buying locally grown, seasonal food and how to cook that food in order to maintain maximum vital energy.

As a Natural Agriculture, certified organic, educational research farm, we help schools meet required wellness program curriculum standards through our farm to school program and hope to help future generations create a healthier, more sustainable food system in the US and abroad.

It is our hope that our program will help many children lead happy, healthy, productive lives. We hope they will connect with Nature and continue to maintain that connection throughout their lives. We hope they will continue to give the gift of that knowledge to future generations as well for the good of humanity and our planet.