Volunteers needed for Farm to School program

ISHPEMING — One Ishpeming class was out planting in gardens on Wednesday as they learn about farming and healthy eating.

Partridge Creek Farms has been working with the entire fifth grade as part of the Farm to School program, and this morning they were planting and weeding at one of their gardens near the high school.

Along with the lettuce, peas, potatoes, beans and strawberries that they will be able to graze on throughout the year, today they were planting peppers.

“We have three major programs, one of them is farm to school, and we do the entire 5th grade of Ishpeming schools. Once a week we meet with them and we try to do outdoor activities. This group has done some amazing things, we went to a seeds and spores farm the other day and they’re learning a lot about farming and good, healthy food” said Partridge Creek Farms Director, Dan Perkins.

And for anyone looking to help plant a new garden, there will be a chance this weekend when they work on planting their Inspiration Orchard on the corner of York and North, and they need volunteers.

“On June 1st, we’re all going over there. Anybody can come and we’re planting a bunch of plants and stuff” said 5th grade student, Britney.

“It’s going to have a pavilion, it’ll have some pads, it’ll have some benches; but mostly it’ll have fruit plants. Berries, trees and an ever-bearing source of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, plums, apples, cherries, pears and it will be available for the community to go and graze on” said Perkins.

The project is the end of the Farm to School program for the year, and will start Saturday, June 1st, at 9 a.m. and go until 4 p.m., and a lunch will be provided for volunteers.