Greater Newark Conservancy Hosts Harvest Festivals Across Schools for Farm to School Month

NEWARK, NJ — October 20, 2025 — Throughout October, in celebration of National Farm to School Month, Greater Newark Conservancy will host a series of school garden harvest festivals across all seven of its Farm to School sites. These schools are home to the Conservancy’s FoodCorps educators, who engage students throughout the year in hands-on lessons about growing, harvesting, and tasting fresh, healthy foods.

Each festival transforms the school garden into an outdoor classroom, where students explore everything from plant life cycles to local food systems. In total, more than 2,000 students from Pre-K through 8th grade will participate in these joyful, educational celebrations.

“School gardens are powerful spaces for learning,” said Patrick Evans, Education Program Manager at Greater Newark Conservancy. “Students don’t just grow vegetables – they grow curiosity, confidence and a deeper understanding of where their food comes from.”

Led by Patrick Evans and a team of five FoodCorps service members, the harvest festivals feature interactive activity stations where students explore the pumpkin life cycle, participate in a mindfulness walk and sensory scavenger hunt, craft personalized bookmarks, enjoy storytelling and reading with garden- and nature-themed books, learn about urban mammals through pelts and fun facts, and taste a variety of Jersey apples, describing their sensory experience using rich vocabulary.

"Seeing students’ faces light up as they plant seeds, explore the garden, and taste fresh apples reminds us all why hands-on learning is so powerful,” said Lovely-Abena Phillips, a FoodCorps educator who works at Link Community Charter School.

The festivals not only celebrate the fall harvest but also highlight the Conservancy’s year-round commitment to outdoor, experiential learning. Through its Farm to School program, students grow crops from seed to harvest, connecting classroom lessons to the natural world and gaining practical skills along the way.

“Our students are thrilled for the upcoming Fall Festival! It has become a tradition here at Thirteenth Avenue School,” said Sue Rexford, STEM teacher at Thirteenth Avenue School. “We are so thankful to have the Newark Conservancy and Food Corps here to present this yearly event. The students love that it connects them to the garden space, the season, good food and fun activities. The teachers love that there is an opportunity to extend the curriculum and make it interactive.”

"The garden festivals are an incredible extension of what we teach in the classroom,” said Gina Molinari-Schiano, Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Link Community Charter School. “Students get to see science, nutrition, and creativity come to life right outside our doors. It’s inspiring to watch them engage with the world around them in such a meaningful way."

The 2025 Fall Festival schedule includes:

• McKinley School – Fri, Oct. 3 | 550 students (PreK–4th)

• Mt. Vernon School – Tue, Oct. 14 | 275 students (2nd–4th)

• Avon School – Wed, Oct. 15 | 250 students (K–4)

• Link Community Charter School – Fri, Oct. 17 | 250 students (K–4)

• Thirteenth Avenue School – Wed, Oct. 29 | 225 students (1st–3rd)

• Lincoln School – Thu, Oct. 30 | 450 students (PreK–8th)

• Harriet Tubman School – Fri, Oct. 31 | 125 students (PreK–4th)

About Greater Newark Conservancy
Founded in 1987 as a community gardening initiative, Greater Newark Conservancy has grown into a leading force in urban agriculture, environmental education, and community wellness. For nearly four decades, Greater Newark Conservancy has empowered Newark residents by transforming vacant lots into thriving farms, educating thousands of students through hands-on environmental field trips, and increasing access to fresh produce through farmers markets, CSA programs, and mobile farm stands. For more information, please visit www.greaternewark.org/.