Meet Loretta Ball, the farmer and floral designer at The Never Ending Flower Farm in Barnardsville, NC. Loretta runs the farm with help from her husband, mother, and two sons, Quinn and Ledger. Loretta’s farming roots go back to her family’s tobacco farm. She and her family also grew a vegetable garden for many years, which gradually transformed into the u-pick flower farm business they run today. Watch our interview with Loretta to learn more about her family’s farm and the beautiful flowers they grow there.
Videos
Welcome to the Growing Minds video archive! Our videos include virtual tours of local family farms to share with students, plus instructional videos for educators beginning to implement farm to school activities at their schools, including edible gardens, local food taste tests, and classroom cooking lessons.
Meet Your Farmer: Last Penny Farm Alpacas
Meet Erin Greene, the farmer at Last Penny Farm Alpacas in Weaverville, NC, and her children, Jacob and Sadie. Learn about how Erin became a fiber farmer, find out what she enjoys about raising animals, and meet the adorable alpacas that call this farm home.
Meet Your Farmer: Spinning Spider Creamery
Meet Chris and Cullen Owen, farmers at Spinning Spider Creamery, an artisan goat dairy in Marshall, NC. Learn about why the Owen’s chose to become farmers, find out what they love most about farming, and learn about the cheese making process. Learn more about Spinning Spider Creamery. Find Growing Minds educational resources that compliment this video below.
Meet Your Farmer: Ivy Creek Family Farm
Meet Anna Littman, one of the farmers at Ivy Creek Family Farm, a diversified vegetable farm in Barnardsville, NC. Learn about why Anna chose to become a farmer, find out what she loves most about farming, and see what veggies are cultivated on her farm.
The Garden Song
Debbi Madill’s students love growing, cooking, and eating the yummy veggies from their school garden! This video debuted at our 2013 Farm to School Conference.
Local Kale Salad Taste Test
Western Carolina University nutrition and education students conduct a taste test of local kale salad at Cullowhee Valley School. These pre-service dietitians and teachers are learning how to implement Farm to School activities into their future professions.
Planting the Spring Garden
Education and nutrition students from Western Carolina University help students at Cullowhee Valley School plant their spring garden. These pre-service dietitians and teachers are learning how to implement Farm to School activities into their future professions.
Farm to School Taste Tests
Students at Cullowhee Valley Elementary School enjoy a taste test of local sweet potatoes with help from Western Carolina University pre-service teachers and dietitians through ASAP’s Growing Minds Farm to School Program!
Downloads
- Farm to School taste tests (quick view as .pdf)
Shared Blessings Farm
This video introduces children to various farm animals around Shared Blessings Farm in Cullowhee, NC.
Cooking Cabbage Apple Quesadillas
Kindergarten students from Cullowhee Valley Elementary School cook apple cabbage quesadillas with help from Western Carolina University pre-service teachers and dietitians through ASAP’s Growing Minds Farm to School Cooking Program!