Students dig into organic farming

District 13’s partnership with the Crossroads Farm at Grossman’s, in Malverne, led to the fourth-graders getting their hands dirty on Tuesday. The day of lettuce planting was preceded by an initial staff visit in February. Students transferred heads of lettuce from planters in a greenhouse to dirt beds outside. This time, the children returned to the farm to harvest the lettuce and enjoy it for an organic lunch.

There were audible gasps as the children saw how big their heads of lettuce grew since their last visit.

“At a time when children are overwhelmed with testing and Common Core, what a gift it is to be able to come to a farm,” said Frank Chiachiere, a District 13 Board of Education trustee. Chiachiere proposed the program as a way to introduce the children to organic farming and healthy eating.