WAYNESBORO, VA (Rocktown Now) — Waynesboro Public Schools recently hosted a Farm to Fork Teaching and Learning professional development event at the Waynesboro Education Farm in partnership with James Madison University (JMU) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Held September 16-17, the two-day, hands-on professional learning experience engaged middle and high school teachers from across the region in a project-based learning (PBL) through outdoor settings workshop.

A participating teacher shows off a batch of freshly harvested radishes during the Farm to Fork professional development at the Waynesboro Education Farm. | Source: Waynesboro Public Schools

According to a release, Farm to Fork immersed participants in experiences that mirrored what students might encounter in PBL settings. Teachers harvested produce, collaborated to prepare farm-to-table meals, and took part in real farm work that emphasized character-building and teamwork. They also designed student-led learning projects, learned practical techniques for learning outside of the traditional classroom, and explored cross-curricular connections that align with state standards.

A teacher receives guidance during a Farm to Fork session, designed to model project-based learning in outdoor settings. | Source: Waynesboro Public Schools

“At the farm we are trying to make education concepts like Placed Based Learning, Project Based Learning, and Regenerative learning very practical, ” said Ryan Blosser, Farm Educator. “The teachers flowed through the farm these two days exactly how students do – always moving, working in groups, on an authentic project that resulted in a delicious meal to cap the evenings off. School can be fun, and we can learn a ton – this is why we do what we do.”