When we sent our last newsletter we were just beginning to see the impacts of COVID as schools were shutting down and all learning was forced online. SEEAG had to take a deep breath, dig in and pivot to help our students at home and support the agricultural community’s most basic needs. With the help of our partners we were able to procure seeds and soil for gardens near and far. Thousands of pounds of produce were delivered to farmworkers in Oxnard. Team SEEAG quickly created distance learning lessons and webinars. I am very proud of what we accomplished in a short period of time.
The 2020-2021 school year has started and we are bringing our Farm Lab and the Ventura County Child Wellness Initiative to thousands of students at thome. We are excited that so many teachers throughout Ventura County have registered for our online programs. We are hopeful schools will go back to normal in 2021, but if not SEEAG will be ready to support our community teachers and schools no matter what the circumstances are.
Thank you for your support.
Warm Regards, Mary Maranville, SEEAG Founder and CEO
FARMER OF THE SEASON: SUSAN CAUGHEY OF FIG TREE FARMS
Susan Caughey is the proud owner of Fig Tree Farms in Santa Paula, the location of SEEAG’s new refurbished barn office! Susan mainly grows lemons and avocados – but also tends over 400 exotic Australian finger lime trees! Watch the video below to learn about how she grows her amazing finger limes, and where to purchase them to make a fun fall snack of your own! Visit Susan today at www.fig-tree-farms.com!
Goat Cheese, Fig and Prosciutto Crostini Topped with Finger Lime Caviar
Toast bread until lightly browned with a small amount of olive oil
Top with herbed goat cheese, thinly sliced black figs, and prosciutto
Finish with a sprinkling of fresh finger lime “caviar” to add a refreshing citrus bite
We hope you enjoy this Ventura County grown fall snack!
PROGRAM UPDATES
FARM LAB ONLINE
Our Farm Lab Live online presentations have officially started as Ventura County students enter their Fall 2020 school year. Our team spent the summer crafting creative ways to bring the farm to the classroom, and with over 400 students signed up for our program in just the first few weeks of open enrollment, we are proud to say that our hard work as paid off.
Our online Farm Lab presentation has been separated into 3 modules. We explore plant anatomy, soil health, insect management practices, and groundwater extraction practices during our sessions together, just as we did on the farm.
We strive to inspire students to think more deeply about the food that they eat every day through our programs. If you are a 3rd-grade educator or know someone who may be interested, please visit our website to sign-up for one (or all) of our fun Farm Lab Modules!
VCCWI ONLINE
The Ventura County Child Wellness Initiative and the Farm Fresh Van are officially back on the road with over 700 students signed to participate in this program! This year we are offering our unique nutrition and wellness program, the VCCWI, as a 45-minute, interactive, online Zoom presentation. During the presentation, students learn about the abundance of fresh produce grown in Ventura County, the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables, and fun ways to keep their entire bodies healthy.
We are also continuing to drive the Farm Fresh van around town to deliver Healthy Hero resource bags filled with educational materials and fresh produce to schools and students free of charge!
Dates are filling up quick with over 25 presentations currently on our calendar. Make sure you schedule your class for a VCCWI presentation this year by visiting our website today!
Santa Barbara County Farm Day Farm Day Features September 19, 2020
Join us this Saturday on the Santa Barbara County Farm Day Facebook page and website to watch the Farm Day Feature videos and short videos from our favorite Santa Maria Valley farms! Feature films premier on Facebook and the Santa Barbara County Farm Day Website at 9:00 am, and short farm videos will shared at the top of every hour. We look forward to sharing the importance and brilliance of Santa Barbara County agriculture with you this Saturday!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
9:00 AM Farm Day Feature Films Premier on SBC Farm Day’s Facebook Page
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Farm Day Location Videos Premier Every Hour on SBC Farm Day’s Facebook Page (Videos Featuring Allan Hancock College, Babé Farms, Engel & Gray, Inc., Innovative Produce, Main Street Produce, and Riverbench Vineyard & Winery)
Ventura County Farm Day Drive in Movie Night November 1, 2020
Join us on November 1st for a night at the drive in! This year we are taking Ventura County Farm Day to the movies, and offering a special showing of Apricot Lane Farms’ film “The Biggest Little Farm.” Tickets go on sale at the end of this month, and you aren’t going to want to miss this family-friendly event!
Thank you Pyramid Flowers for your generosity towards SEEAG this season, and all year long! We greatly appreciate all that you have helped SEEAG accomplish, especially during these uncertain times.
Our mailing address is:
SEEAG (Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture)
