Fall 2024 Giving Campaign

You can help a student in Montezuma County to grow.

Partner with us to ensure that we can provide kids with experiential, garden-based lessons for years to come.

"Garden class is the easiest class to get all kids engaged. I've had incredibly high behaviors be sucked in to lessons. I've had five different life skills students stay completely regulated and engaged in almost every single lesson. It's heartwarming and inspiring.” - Cortez 4th Grade Teacher

"This was my first time trying a pumpkin seed. I really liked it!! When I first went here, it was also my first time trying a raspberry and I liked it too! "- Cortez Kindergartener

"I've always wanted to have a garden at home. I'm so glad I get to come and work in this one!" - Mancos Elementary School Student  

There's nothing more magical than watching a high-energy 5-year-old spend a few quiet minutes inspecting a seed, or see behavioral challenges melt away when a student gets to pick a tomato, learn about all its pieces and how it grows, and then taste it fresh from the vine, often for the first time.

The poverty rate in Montezuma County is over twice the state average - we believe that our students deserve engaging and impactful educational opportunities as much as students in any other district. Since 2009, The Montezuma School to Farm Project has been addressing this need by providing engaging garden lessons at the crossroads of food production, food preparation and resource conservation. We serve students from ages 3 to 18, from when they first learn how to hold a watering can, to  when they can develop an understanding of how to make good soil for growing. Numerous studies show that garden classes work - they increases scientific knowledge, supports healthy eating habits, connect students with each other and the land, and promotes social and emotional growth.  

During the 23/24 school year, we were able to provide garden-based education to over 1,200 students over 3,506 student hours. Every public school elementary student in the schools we worked with got time in the garden. Our school gardens produced over 5,250 lbs. of food which were distributed to students and community members in collaboration with the school district and local food distribution nonprofits. Experiencing foods is a core tenet of our curriculum; Montezuma School to Farm facilitated over 10,000 tastings in this last school year alone, exposing children to over 40 distinct healthy food items.

With your support, we would like to continue to refine our evidence-based curriculum, increase our student hours, and engage more with our community through volunteer events, classes, and awareness campaigns. We would also like to continue the work we have been doing for over 15 years - giving the student of Montezuma County a unique opportunity to grow and learn.