Mercer School Wins Best In New Jersey Farm to School Award

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A school located in Hamilton recently won the “Best in New Jersey Farm to School Award” from the state Department of Agriculture.

The Joseph F. Cappello School in Hamilton established an inclusive garden and made it accessible for students to care for.

The DOA presented the award to the school during the celebration of the 13th annual “Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week” and initial “Ag Literacy Week” held Sept. 25-29.

“Joseph Cappello School’s ability to develop an inclusive school garden is a tribute to their commitment to the Farm to School Program,” NJDA Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Joe Atchison III said in a statement.

“Their efforts to incorporate what is grown in the garden into their school meals, donate produce to a local organization, and include agriculture in their curriculum makes them truly deserving of this award.”

The school created a garden with wheelchair accessibility, to enable students of all abilities to participate. The school has also implemented teaching wellness and healthy living to students as well as providing opportunities for teaching responsibility, ownership, teamwork, and community through the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Climate Change education.

Principal Clara Bigos and students from the school’s Green Team were present to accept the award and share their successes in the school garden recently.

“I’m very proud of our Green Team for not only establishing a successful garden but for leading by example and showing our students the true value of collaboration and trust when working as a team,” Bigos said.

Students planted seedlings and then transplanted them into garden beds and raised garden beds.

The school also established a “Green Team,” which is comprised of various school members who meet and collaborate on ideas and lead the care, organization and needs of the garden. Throughout the Extended School Year summer program, the garden served as a living laboratory where students practiced ownership, collaboration, and responsibility.

With the cooperation of cafeteria staff, students used produce for “Farm to Table” to sample and incorporate healthy foods into their lunches.

Classes also utilized the Jersey Fresh website to practice following recipes, while incorporating produce, specifically making zucchini muffins to share with the school community.

After the extended school year program ended in mid-August, extra produce was donated to the Visitation Home in Hamilton, which serves as a day program for adults with special needs.

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