Spend an afternoon with farmer Chue Lee and her daughter Ariel at Lee’s One Fortune Farm in McDowell County, North Carolina. The Lee’s grow many interesting crops on their family farm, including the purple sweet potatoes and bok choy (an Asian leafy green vegetable that is related to cabbage) seen in this video. They also grow Asian pears and persimmons, bitter melon, several varieties of rice, and more. The Lee’s sell their produce at farmers tailgate markets throughout Asheville. Learn more about the history of this family farm and the rice they grow.
Sweet Potatoes
Growing Minds Day by Day: First Week of November
This week’s theme is potatoes. Our “Growing Minds Day by Day” educational resource lists are designed for families and educators.
The Gigantic Sweet Potato
After weeks of hard work and tending to her garden, it was finally time for Ma Farmer to harvest her sweet potato and make some sweet potato pie; but when she tried to pull the tasty vegetable from the ground, it wouldn’t budge. With the help of her husband and some friendly farm animals, they
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)
Sweet Potato Fritters recipe and lesson plan
A delicious recipe for sweet potato fritters. The associated lesson plan includes instructions for making your own sweet potato slips.
Downloads
- Sweet Potato Fritters recipe and lesson plan (quick view as .pdf)
Ma Farmer’s Sweet Potato Pie
From the book, The Gigantic Sweet Potato, by Dianne de Las Casas, this recipe incorporates local sweet potatoes into a sweet and savory pie.
Sweet Potato Exploration – Preschool
Children use their sense to explore sweet potatoes and gain confidence in trying new vegetables. Students learn to identify a new vegetable. Students associate vegetables and fruits with a dynamic activity and positive experience.
Downloads
- Sweet Potato Tasting – Preschool (quick view as .pdf)
Potato Exploration lesson plan
Introduce students to potatoes and how they grow. Teach students about measurement and guide them practicing close observation through potato explorations.
Downloads
- Potato Exploration lesson plan (quick view as .pdf)
- Potato facts (quick view as .pdf)
- Potato images (quick view as .pdf)