Nourishing Our Youth: Mission to Educate Our Future

At Pocono Organics the belief that healthy food starts with healthy soil is at the core of everything we do. As a global center of research, education, and discovery, it’s our mission to sow the seeds of knowledge to everyone who visits our farm. We recognize that to ensure the future of our planet is focused on regenerating the earth, we need to focus on educating our youth, who will soon be the ones charged with the stewardship of the planet.

We are educating children with hands-on, experiential learning on the farm and in the community using 3 pillars of action that support the regenerative movement.

1. At the Farm: The Clean Food Dirty Hands Initiative

Clean Food Dirty Hands is a series of experiential learning classes focused on teaching our youth regenerative organic agricultural practices. Through hands-on experiences and sensory play, Pocono Organics gives children the opportunity to plant and tend to their own garden plots and explore the wonders of plants. Students have the chance to share stories, taste new foods, and create nature-based crafts.

2. In the Community: Farm to School

When Ashley Walsh founded Pocono Organics in 2015, she did so with the goal of providing good quality, nutrient dense organic food to the community. Currently, Pocono Organics is keeping that dream alive by working with local school districts to provide healthy, fresh, organically grown produce within their Farm to School grant success, allowing schools to serve up some of the most nutrient dense school lunches around. We also partner with schools by providing educational collateral for cafeterias and classrooms, video shorts, flyers, and class visits to further educate students on living a healthy lifestyle.

3. Hands-on-in-Homes: Mini Mushroom Farms

Pocono Organics Mini Mushroom Farm Kits allow students to bring the farm directly into their classrooms and homes. Each kit comes with organic mushroom spawn started by our farmers, growing instructions, and recipes. Students are directly involved in caring for the mushrooms and engaged in the growth process, watching the pins evolve until harvest day. Once harvested, students are encouraged to put Pocono Organics Executive Chef Lindsay McClain’s recipes to the test and turn their yield into a meal. 

These 3 pillars are only the beginning. Pocono Organics is committed to educating the community and the world at large about the benefits of regenerative agriculture. If we don’t start repairing the damage done to the soil, our beautiful planet will continue to suffer. It is our responsibility to give our children the tools needed to respect and care for the earth.

Learn more about our Clean Food Dirty Hands program and other youth initiatives.

Visit poconoorganics.com/kids