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AMI Urban Farm

at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind

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In 2013, AMI (known then as Allegheny Mountain School) partnered with the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind to develop and operate the largest Farm to School program in the state. The AMI Urban Farm at VSDB provides a place for students of all ages to learn, play, and grow outdoors. The farm offers a year-round gardening curriculum and partners with VSDB's on-campus CROPS Greenhouse program to incorporate the curriculum into hands-on farming experience in its vegetable farm, educational gardens, outdoor classroom, and kitchen, and orchard.

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In 2018, the project "graduated" from AMI's management. It is now independently managed by the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind, and continues to incorporate farm grown food into the school's cafeteria and curriculum, including the CROPS program, which offers academic opportunities, nutritional education, and hands-on job training for students with sensory concerns.

Empowering Educators

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Teacher workshops designed to inspire and inform school garden leaders

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A working farm as a model for gardens as educational spaces

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Commitment to Community​

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Free community workshops feature topics from beneficial insects to fermentation and mushroom cultivation.​

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Weekly community workdays â€‹

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Partnership with local coffeeshops to put food scraps and used grounds to work as compost

Inclusive and Experiential​

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Science and vocational education for students of all ages and abilities​

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Student-powered farm stand for families and staff to enjoy fresh vegetables

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