Food is our foundation; people grow here.
(27)
September's Community Workshop Series topic was Basics of Beekeeping. Participants learned about locating an apiary, what equipment is needed, input costs, where to get bees, and the seasonal cycle of beekeeping. After the class, participants suited up and dove into JVTF's beehives to see up close what beekeeping is really like!
Thank you to Allyson Shabel and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System!
Pre-K students at Glen Iris Elementary got outside on a beautiful day to explore the Teaching Farm using all 5 senses!
We recently distributed 7,668 fall and winter seedlings for free to 31 community partners! Our Seedling Share initiative supports community gardens across the state with free seedlings throughout the year and the seedlings you purchased at our plant sale allow us to continue this work.
ANNOUNCING: Twilight Supper Featured Lineup 💫 -
EVANS MEATS & SEAFOOD • FOOD & WINE A DOTDASH MEREDITH COMPANY • GRACIE GOODRICH • HOAR CONSTRUCTION • JEMISON INVESTMENT COMPANY • JONES FAMILY • KHA • KROGER DELIVERY • LYDIA AND TAYLOR PURSELL • MARJORIE PERLMAN • MEDICAL PROPERTIES TRUST • O’NEAL INDUSTRIES • PNC BANK ....
Third graders at Avondale Elementary joined Farmer Bethany on the Teaching Farm to learn about simple machines. They explored tools we use on the farm to look to see which simple machines each tool uses and how it makes work easier ⚙️
Although the new school year is in full swing, we're still dreaming about our final camp of the summer: Community, Food & You! Over two weeks, campers met many talented chefs and were inspired to create their own dishes to share with their families at this year's Community Food Fair. If there's something we can all agree on it’s that food brings us together. Students transformed produce from the farm into veggie pasta, veggie sushi, and shortcakes with macerated berries!
TOMORROW • Stop by the Center for Food Education, 701 25th St N, between 8am and 1pm for your LAST CHANCE to purchase JVTF fall seedlings! We’ll have broccoli, cabbage, kale, collards, and Swiss chard seedlings available as well as music, vendors, and cooking demo fun for the whole family!
Buy a seedling, give a seedling! Each seedling you purchase provides a free seedling to a community garden and helps sustain our free seedling initiative. By investing in the power of food, you invest in our community's future. Thank you!
Kindergarten students at Avondale Elementary joined Farmer Bethany to explore the Teaching Farm using all 5 senses!
Join me in welcoming our newest staff members, Jameelah & Wilnesia!
Jameelah Harrell | Good School Food Instructor
Jameelah is a Birmingham native and attended Murray State University in Murray, KY where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science. For the past two years, she has worked as both a long-term and full-time substitute teacher at Paducah Middle School in Paducah, KY. As a JVTF instructor, Jameelah is hoping to be able to continue to nourish her passion for children. Outside of work, you can catch Jameelah spending time with her dogs and family, at RANSOM (Radical Athlete and Student Oasis Ministry), doing things that make her happy, and enjoying life.
Wilnesia Golden | Finance & Administration Manager
Born and raised in Birmingham, AL, Wilnesia moved to Jacksonville, AL, after graduating high school where she acquired a bachelor's degree in finance at Jacksonville State University. Wilnesia is excited to serve as the new JVTF finance and admin manager. Outside of work, she spends most of her time with her two-year-old daughter and enjoys shopping and exploring the city for new restaurants.
BEEKEEPING WORKSHOP • Are you interested in beekeeping but not sure where to start? Join us on Monday, September 25th to learn the basics: locating an apiary, essential equipment, input costs, where to get bees, and how to make money. We will discuss "a year in beekeeping" to better understand a honey bee colony’s rhythms and the time you will need to care for a colony of bees.
We'll offer an optional 45-minute session after class where we will suit up and dive into the hives on-site to get a feel for beekeeping. We have limited bee suits so looking into the hives will be first come first serve.
This event is free with limited space available. To pre-register to attend, visit: https://intro-to-beekeeping.eventbrite.com
NEXT WEEKEND • Get a head start on your fall garden by purchasing your baby seedlings from JVTF!
Join us Saturday, September 9th & 16th from 8am to 1pm at the Center for Food Education, 701 25th St N, to purchase cabbage, broccoli, kale, collards, and swiss chard seedlings. We'll also have music, vendors, and cooking demos for the entire family to enjoy! When you purchase seedlings, you are also providing free seedlings to our community partners.
Jones Valley Teaching Farm (JVTF) seeks a development manager to manage, sustain, and grow our grants portfolio and support the ex*****on of JVTF’s fundraising strategies. The development manager plays a critical role in the financial success and growth of JVTF. Key responsibilities include writing grant proposals and reports, tracking grant and report deadlines, managing JVTF’s donor database and acknowledgment processes, ensuring grant compliance, and assisting with annual fundraising events.
This work requires a passion for Jones Valley Teaching Farm’s mission; self-direction and motivation; a high degree of professionalism; attention to detail; and strong writing, organization, and communication skills. This role reports to the director of development and communications and is a unique opportunity to support a growing and nationally recognized organization.
For more information and to apply, visit: https://jvtf.org/were-hiring-development-manager/
5th grade students at Glen Iris Elementary recently joined Farmer Liz on the Teaching Farm for a lesson on what plants need to survive and thrive!
First grade pepper party on the Teaching Farm at Avondale Elementary! 🌶 🫑
Join us October 13th for a magical evening under the stars and in the fields of our Downtown Farm. The 17th annual Twilight Supper is presented by PNC and will feature dinner by Claudette Zepeda, dessert by Claudia Martinez, and cocktails by Jose de Jesus Medina Camacho. This annual fundraiser raises meaningful funds that propel JVTF's growth and impact on youth and the Birmingham community. ✨ Purchase tickets: https://twilightsupper.givesmart.com
Meet Good Community Food Fellow, Jaela!
"It has been full of surprises and great lessons! My family and I used to joke that we had brown thumbs instead of green thumbs because our plants rarely survived after planting. But this journey has been super helpful! It's been fun to learn about agriculture hands-on and learn about things like companionship planting and keeping pests away without pesticides."
Our Community Work Day for Saturday, 8/26 have been cancelled due to excessive heat. See you next time!
Meet our education team for the 2023-2024 school year! JVTF Instructors deliver our Good School Food is a hands-on food education model that connects students to food, farming, and the culinary arts through standards-based, cross-curricular lessons during the school day. They also run after-school programs where students manage the Teaching Farm and practice culinary skills by creating recipes that incorporate the fresh produce they grow!
Have a student that doesn't attend one of our partner schools? You can still experience Good School Food, our hands-on education model, through field trips to the Center for Food education or by checking out our mobile app. Check out the link in our bio for more info on both!
Sowing season is always an exciting time, but this year is especially exciting because we are sowing in TWO GREENHOUSES! Seeds are being sown for our sites, Good Community Food Fellows, our seedling share program, and our upcoming plant sale on September 9th & 16th.
Please join us in welcoming this year's class of JVTF High School Interns! Each year, a select group of Birmingham City School students have the opportunity to participate in a paid internship for course credit. Over the course of the year, our interns will manage JVTF's 2-acre Teaching Farm at Woodlawn High School while learning the essential skills of farm production, from soil preparation to harvest, as well as receiving professional development.
When one pond has too many turtle and another pond doesn't have any? Our farmer's perform a turtle transplant! 🐢
Get a head start on your fall garden by purchasing your baby seedlings from JVTF. When you do, you are also providing free seedlings to our community partners. We will have music, vendors, and cooking demos for the entire family to enjoy! Join us at the Center for Food Education on September 9th and 16th from 8-1! Address is: 701 25th St N Birmingham, AL 35203!
Recently, four members of our staff were invited to attend the beginner beekeeping training with Alabama Master Beekeepers. Special thanks to our beekeeping mentor, Wayne, for helping make this opportunity possible!
We are in the lull of mid-summer where the fields are being transitioned for fall planting, the old summer crops are producing their last harvests, and the farmers move a little more slowly. We are awaiting the arrival of our new apprentice cohort, praising many, many thanks to our dedicated and incredible weekly volunteers, and planning in anticipation for the abundance that comes with cooler weather.
Welcome back BCS students! We can't wait to see you on the Teaching Farm 🌱 🥕 ✏️
Join us Thursday, August 17th for a workshop with ACES Regional Extension Agent, Angela Treadway to learn how to make and preserve your own foods at home with water bath canning. Participants will have the opportunity to can a jar of salsa to take home. This event is free with limited space available. Pre-register to attend:
Join us for a free workshop!
Meet Good Community Food Fellow, Kathryn!
"As a first time gardener I feel like I have learned so much of the basics of gardening such as the best time to plant, where to plant, which plants grow well together, how to treat diseases, and harvesting. Our monthly meetings have been jam packed with information from professionals within the gardening industry which I have loved. Learning to grow food helps my family and I can pass it on to my children and they can pass it on to their peers. I would love to start a community garden where homeschool families can come and garden. We’d have a garden club and many programs that will assist in their educational and recreational interests. I envision the community would be multicultural and multigenerational—I am so excited! I am trying to learn as much as I can; to take this knowledge and spread it so that we can all grow together."
Join us on August 1st, 3rd, 8th, or 9th from 9am to 1pm for a volunteer opportunity where you will learn how to start seeds while sowing future plants for your fellow Birmingham community members. We SOW look forward to seeing you!
Link in bio to sign up! Slots are limited so snag yours ASAP! Once you sign up for a day you can stay the whole time or come and go as your schedule allows. Located on JVTF's Teaching Farm at Woodlawn High School, 253 54th Street North, Birmingham, AL, 35212. All ages under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. It will be hot and humid in the greenhouse. Please bring a water bottle, close toed shoes, clothes that can get dirty.
During Camp Grow: Kitchen Champs, campers got a chance to enhance their culinary skills and creativity in the kitchen! Guided by instructors, campers explored various cooking techniques and culinary secrets. Throughout the camp, the students prepared a wide range of delicious, mouthwatering dishes. Highlights from the week include:
1. Ramen with Homemade Broth: Campers explored the art of making authentic ramen from scratch, starting with the preparation of a rich and flavorful broth. After making the broth, they assembled their ramen bowls with noodles and an assortment of vegetables..
2. Cultural Cuisine: We dedicated a day to exploring different international cuisines! The students learned about various cultures' culinary traditions and tried their hands at preparing dishes from around the world.
3. Tasting and Feedback: Each day, campers eagerly tasted and critiqued their creations, allowing them to refine their cooking techniques and learn from each other's experiences.
As Camp Grow came to a close, the budding chefs left with newfound confidence and skills that will undoubtedly inspire their culinary adventures in the future.
Join us for a FREE workshop with ACES Regional Extension Agent, Lynn Dickinson, to learn about what is considered a native species, why they are important, and how to create a plan to develop a native landscape. This event is free with limited space available. To pre-register, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/good-community-food-workshop-series-native-plants-tickets-681842728957?aff=oddtdtcreator
Meet Bethany, our newest Good School Food Instructor!
"I'm Bethany, or Bee. I'm from Tuscaloosa and attended the University of Alabama 2011-2015 where I majored in elementary education. I've taught third grade for eight years and served as the inclusion classroom for five of those years. I stumbled upon Jones Valley's instagram account a year ago and was completely enchanted by their mission and presentation. I have felt a yearning to fight for change outside of the public education classroom for a while now and am stoked to be a part of this team! Outside of work, you can catch me reading, playing with my dogs, roller skating, hiking, or watching TikToks of the Eras Tour."
Have you visited the Farm Stand this season? Each week, the Farm Stand, located on the corner of 7th Ave N and 25th St N, is stocked with a variety of free seasonal fruits, vegetables, herbs, and seedlings grown on our Teaching Farms. Inside, visitors will find instructions for the self-serve system. The Farm Stand is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am until 4:30pm and Saturday from 9:00am-12:00pm. We believe that no matter your income or circumstances, everyone deserves good food. If you are moved to support JVTF’s efforts to build food-resilient, healthy, and connected communities, donations are accepted at the stand and online.
—
Parking is available along 7th Ave N and in the JVTF parking lots off of 25th St N.
During our third session of Camp Grow, campers had the opportunity to become green engineers! Campers tapped into the world of non-traditional farming and explored different ways to grow food in various conditions. Our friend, Ricky Davis, came by and encouraged students to experiment growing crop in household items like a laundry basket or kiddie pool. Campers split up and each team was given a challenging scenario (like the top of a building or on water) where they had to design a solution for growing food. We finished the week with a beautiful solar dehydrator and solar oven s’mores!
All of these beauties were harvested from our Teaching Farms—How many of these summer blooms can you name?
During our latest workshop with Good Community Food Fellows, we discussed how to start a community garden, including permitting, land bank properties, and grant opportunities!
JVTF (along with many other organizations and educators) is participating in a series of Design Studios led by the Alabama STEM Council to create a "STEM Ecosystem" for the state. Ultimately, Alabama's STEM Ecosystem will consist of an intentional and robust network of STEM-related programs and career opportunities that can be directly connected to schools, students, and families across the state. During the first Design Studio in November, participants worked together to create common goals and objectives that will guide the further development of the Ecosystem. JVTF is honored to be included in the STEM Council's work, and we look forward to seeing what new and exciting STEM opportunities become available for all of Alabama's students
701 25th Street N
Birmingham, AL
35203
| Monday | 8am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 8am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 8am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 8am - 5pm |
| Friday | 8am - 5pm |
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Jones Valley Teaching Farm posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Send a message to Jones Valley Teaching Farm:
It's time to start sowing those fall crops! Over the next few weeks we'll sow seeds for all 7 JVTF sites and community partners. What fall veggies are you most excited about?
Farming is a practice of patience, determination, vision, planning, and connection with place and people. These are just a few of the traits exemplified by our very own Katie Davis—and felt by anyone who has visited one of our 7 Teaching Farms or had the opportunity to work or volunteer at JVTF with her. Her fingerprints are evident among all of our sites as she was integral in the thoughtful creation of each one, beginning with farming the Downtown soil herself as the Farm Manager over 13 years ago. Please join us in celebrating all that she is to the organization, the students we learn with, the crops we grow, and the communities in which we work. Read the full interview: https://jvtf.org/katie-davis/
Through our recent partnership with Community Care Development Network (CCDN), our Graduate Apprentices have created 8 healthy snack recipes to share during CCDN's Healthy Tuesdays. This week, Destiny walks us through making a cucumber tomato salad!
What a year! Thank you for following along in this monumental year for Jones Valley Teaching Farm. Visit, https://poweroffood.swell.gives/ and join us as we envision a Birmingham inspired by food and transformed by youth.
JVTF loves our recurring donors! These monthly gifts sustain our work and ensure that every day we are able to provide transformational learning experiences, free produce to our community, and on-the-job training to youth across Birmingham and Jefferson County. Becoming a recurring donor is easy! Visit jvtf.org/give to join this special group of partners.
Jones Valley Teaching Farm provides transformational learning experiences, economic mobility for young adults, and access to fresh free produce to build more resilient communities. This holiday season, we need you to give a gift to bring Good School Food to more students, families, and communities. Join us as we build a Birmingham inspired by food and transformed by youth. A gift of any size makes an impact! DONATE NOW: https://poweroffood.swell.gives/
Check out our Annual Report video to learn how our work has evolved and expanded to provide students with a transformational educational experience using food, farming, and the culinary arts as a foundation for learning, leadership development, and economic mobility. Thank you for investing in and fueling the work of Jones Valley Teaching Farm 💚
Check out our Annual Report video to learn how our work has evolved and expanded to provide students with a transformational educational experience using food, farming, and the culinary arts as a foundation for learning, leadership development, and economic mobility. Thank you for investing in and fueling the work of Jones Valley Teaching Farm 💚
The Center for Food Education will bring together students, educators, and our community to create a dynamic hub around food, education, health, and youth employment. Although the building itself is nearing completion, we still need you help funding the final construction and stocking it will appliances, tools, desks, bees, and so much more. Join us by investing in the Center and creating a space that connects people through growing, cooking, and sharing food. Donate now by visiting https://ready2grow.org/explore/ OR by texting "JVTF" to 474747
Smokeneck Farm & Garden/General Store
Highway 77
#}
