Old Trail School and Countryside (formerly Countryside Conservancy) have formed a new partnership (the “Farm Project”) that will ensure the future of the OTS Farm, a major priority of the School for the last two years.
Countryside has been working with the School for several years through the Winter Farmers’ Markets and other educational programs and will be formally connected with our School and Farm.
Farm Project goals include:
1. Creating hands-on educational opportunities and curriculum development for the School including crops, livestock, compost and aquaculture
2. Raising produce and eggs for use by the School’s kitchen
3. Instructing and inspiring beginning farmers to become members of a resilient, sustainable food system
4. Supporting farms within Cuyahoga Valley National Park
5. Involving members of the public in educational opportunities
The Farm Project will include crop and livestock production as well as the existing composting and bee keeping programs. The partnership will expand upon the long-running indoor Countryside Farmers’ Markets held at the School from November through April. The markets will be known as the Countryside Old Trail School Winter Farmers’ Markets beginning this fall.
The School’s Executive Chef will be working closely with Countryside’s Agricultural Educator to determine which farm products are needed to supply our School lunch program. Any extra produce or eggs that are not needed by the School will be donated to local non-profit organizations.
