Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy helped Fairfield students remove sunflowers so the seeds can be harvested.

2^nd and 3^rd graders at Fairfield got down and dirty as part of Farm to School Month.

Their classes are part of the School Garden Project of Lane County. Kids get to take part in up to a dozen sessions throughout the school year that link gardening with important lessons in math, science and history.

Having already been on a field trip to a local farm to see where food comes from, they got their hands dirty in Fairfield’s own school garden.

Kids harvested sunflower seeds, strawberries and green beans. They also planted kale and chard for harvest in the spring.

Now when they eat healthy snacks in the classroom through the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, kids make the connection with the food on their plates to the gardens and farms where it’s grown.