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Date: 1/11/2024
CHESTER — Chester Elementary School has partnered with Marsy Belle Farm in Blandford to bring students a microgreen planting project experience.
Principal Vanna Maffuccio said the school partnered with local farmer Robert Perry, who will be working with different grades in the school to teach them about the nutritional benefits of microgreens, and how to grow the plants at home.
According to marsybellefarms.com, microgreen farming starts with seeds, but instead of allowing the plant to grow to its full potential, the plant is harvested shortly after the sprouting phase. Microgreens have as much as 40 times more nutrients than a mature plant.
Marsy Belle Farm sells organic seeds and microgreen plants which they deliver locally and ship through their website.
“It is so quick, easy and lucrative,” Maffuccio said.
First graders were introduced to microgreen farming on Dec. 21, 2023, the first day of the project, when they planted radish and pea seeds. For the second day on Jan. 2, the students harvested the greens they planted, and were given biodegradable containers to take home their microgreens.
“Robert provided all the supplies and even left our students with trays, bricks, soil and seeds, so they could keep on planting and harvesting microgreens,” Maffuccio said. She said on Jan. 19 and Feb. 1, fifth graders and kindergartners will participate in the project.
“We used Title I funding to pay for his very reasonable hourly rate,” the principal said of Perry.
“One student shared that she was excited because although she doesn’t have much of a front or back yard, she now knows she can still be a farmer, a microgreen farmer,” Maffuccio added.