Birmingham City Council Approves $805,000 To Expand Teaching Farm Programs for City Students

The Birmingham Times

Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved $805,000 for Jones Valley Teaching Farm to expand its workforce development and apprenticeship programs.

Jones Valley operates seven teaching farms across the city, with six of those being on the campus of Birmingham City Schools. In addition to running a fresh produce stand at their central location, Jones Valley also partners with community food pantries to help stock them with their locally grown vegetables.

Council President Pro Tem Crystal Smitherman said Jones Valley not only provides access to healthy food, particularly for the majority Black communities of Birmingham, but also gives useful experiences for students who want to study life sciences and opportunities for children to grow their own fruits and vegetables.

By Ryan Michaels

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