IDEA Farm Program ABOUT THE FARM Welcome! The IDEA Child Nutrition Farm Program is comprised of a network of small educational farms located in Texas, practicing regenerative agriculture techniques. Our team promotes the understanding that humanity is connected to the Earth and our health and well-being can only occur when our farming practices reflect the principles of good stewardship. That is why it is our mission to cultivate wholesome food for the school cafeteria, teach responsible stewardship, and ignite the student spirit. WHAT WE DO The Farm Program grows food without the use of synthetic chemicals for IDEA Public Schools’ cafeterias. Every farm grows over 3,400 pounds of produce, all of which are consumed by students in the lunchroom. To date, we have grown over 70,000 pounds of produce, all of which have made their way into hundreds of thousands of meals for students. In order to positively change the food system, perceptions about food, and population health in a sustainable way, the Farm Program recognizes the need to teach and empower today’s youth. By participating in every aspect of the food-growing process via a project-based curricula, IDEA Public School students become agents of change in their local and global food systems. Gardening at Home Video two in the Gardening at Home video series. This week Deborah Ray from IDEA Edgemere in El Paso shows us how to tell the difference between annuals and perennials and why that matters. Hope you enjoy and don’t forget to subscribe to IDEA Farm Program’s channel on YouTube. If there are any topics you’d like to see, go ahead drop in your suggestions in the comments. PRINCIPLES/TENETS: Use scientifically validated pedagogical practices that align developmentally with each student Facilitate socio-emotional learning opportunities Teach and implement sustainable and regenerative farming practices Increase wildlife diversity on the farms Promote culturally sensitive opportunities for nutrition access and education Encourage critical thinking to find local solutions to global issues MEET OUR TEAM Hernan Colmenero CNP Director of Farms, IDEA HQ RGV Rocio Hernandez CNP Farm Assistant Manager, IDEA HQ RGV Deborah Ray CNP Farm Assistant Manager, IDEA HQ El Paso Mariana Vargas CNP Farm Assistant Manager, IDEA HQ San Antonio Jaime De Anda IDEA Donna Farm Thomas Hernandez IDEA Horizon Vista Farm Stephanie Patillo IDEA Monterrey Park Farm Jordan Roney IDEA Elsa Farm Rojas Oliva IDEA Edgemere Farm Brandon Cawthon IDEA Eastside Farm Nicole Ozuna IDEA Quest Farm Hayley Wood IDEA Rundberg Farm Pricilla Carbajal IDEA San Benito Farm RESOURCES: Farm Program YouTube Channel Instagram @idea.farm National Farm to School Network Children and Nature Network Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition National Young Farmers Coalition Food First La Via Campesina (For staff only) Farm and Garden Landing Page LATEST NEWS EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Approved for Children Aged 5-11 READ MORE » EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS 43 IDEA Elementary and Middle Schools ranked Best in the Nation by U.S. News & World Report READ MORE » CAREERS Apply Today: IDEA Public Schools 2022-23 Staff Application Is Open! READ MORE » IDEA Headquarters 2115 W. Pike Blvd. Weslaco, TX 78596 Main: (956) 377-8000 Fax: (956) 447-3796 View All Regional Headquarters Locations Quicklinks Alumni Annual Report Camp Rio Careers Contact Us Newsroom Staff Links Resources Academic Calendars Blog Campus Locator Diversity, Equity & Inclusion FAQs Farm Parents Connect with us! Stay informed! Get IDEA Emails IDEA’s Anonymous Ethics and Compliance Hotline 833-380-1041 As required by Title IX, IDEA Public Schools does not (and is required not to) discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs or activities. This non-discrimination requirement applies to admission to and employment with IDEA Public Schools. Inquiries into issues related to Title IX may be referred to IDEA’s Title IX Coordinator(s) (identified below), to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the Department of Education, or both. IDEA’s Title IX Coordinator is: Martin Winchester, Chief Human Assets Officer, 2115 W. Pike Blvd., Weslaco, Texas 78596, (956) 377-8000, martin.winchester@ideapublicschools.org. IDEA Public Schools National Board Members: Al Lopez – Chair, Collin Sewell – Vice Chair, Ed Rivera – Treasurer, Ryan Vaughan – Secretary, Reba Cardenas McNair, David Earl, Erich Holmsten, Saam Zarrabi, Xenia Garza, Michael Adams, Gary Lindgren. Board Meetings & Agenda Finance & Budget Health Related Policies CTE Non-Discrimination Statement Accessibility Annual Reporting Anti-Bullying Policy English