The Urban Farm

Through this program, middle and high school students participate in hands-on learning experiences in animal and plant science as well as service-learning activities at The Farm. This program includes use of alternative growing facilities such as aquaponic and aeroponic. These facilities enable year-around educational programs for schools that focus on plant science, the relationships between plant and animal life, the scientific method, and environmental responsibility. These facilities are part of the development of a comprehensive program of exploring alternate growing environments adaptable to an urban setting.

This program involves young people, ages 5-18, who learn horsemanship, anatomy, large animal husbandry and benefit from equine assisted growth and learning opportunities. In collaboration with the TUF Kids program, participants have opportunities to expand their interest in the equine field through training and competitive events.

This program enables students from urban schools to experience a farm setting. These trips are revelatory for many urban children who have not had an opportunity to visit a farm, interact with plants and animals in a farm setting, nor understand their own roles and responsibilities in the “farm to table” process.

These hands-on, day-long programs are designed to provide fun, engaging, and content rich experiences for children and teens that introduce them to agricultural and environmental issues in a way that builds on the Farm-School Partnership and Expeditionary Learning programs.

Key programs include “I Want to be a Farmer”, that introduces children to where their food comes from and allows them hands-on opportunities to explore sustainable growing practices; “Natural Genius”, that involves children 8-12 in natural building techniques and whose outcome is the building of a structure that becomes part of our farm campus; and “Storybook Farm”, which introduces very young children to the themes of sustainability and environmental responsibility through such favorite stories as Peter Rabbit and The Little Red Hen.

The Urban Farm, in partnership with Colorado State University and CSU Extension Offices, is host to young people who undertake agricultural and environmental projects designed to give them real world experiences in food science and commodity food production. The Farm has one of the largest 4H programs on the front range of Colorado and is unique in the area in that it allows participants to keep animals at The Farm since few urban youth have the space or facilities to raise them at home.

Our on-site greenhouse facilities a number of alternative growing programs such as aquaponic and aeroponic. Participants learn plant science, the relationships between plant and animal life, the scientific method, and environmental responsibility.

Nearby families use the community garden for growing their own crops. It is also the site of formal and informal gardening programs that focus on “best sustainable practices” in growing crops in an urban setting. This community garden program is under the direction of a Master Gardener from Colorado State University’s master gardener program and benefits from a partnership with Denver Urban Gardens.