On Thursday, May 15th, Wauwatosa West students visited Solar Harvest Farm in Tichigan, Wisconsin.  

Students enrolled in sixth period Global Studies class with Social Studies teacher Chris Lazarski are participants in an international collaboratory project about food and food sources.  The project is sponsored by iEARN and the U.S. State Department Photojournalism 2.104 Program.

Students are independently researching and presenting information about food and food sources using news writing and photojournalism skills and then sharing their work with students in Tajikistan and Pakistan via the iEARN Collaboration web site.

“Each stop on the field trip was intended to inform students about the different types of food production and distribution. I wanted students to see and engage in the food production process from the field to the market.” states Global Studies teacher Chris Lazarski.

The purpose of this field trip was to experience the life as a farmer and to learn more about where food comes from and the impact farming has on our community.

“This experience made me realize how to maintain enough food for just one family, yet alone this country as a whole.” said Sophomore Mo Williams.

The students went to three different farms, which were, Solar Harvest Farm, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, and the West Allis Farmer’s Market, but found Solar Harvest Farm to be the most eye opening and interesting. It is here where they learned the two different types of poultry that were raised – some for eggs and some for eating – the challenges to maintain and upkeep  a farm, as well as the importance and impact of healthy soil.

Some students had different expectations of the field trip, not knowing what to expect when they arrived. However, when these students arrived to their first stop of the field trip, their expectations were quickly changed.

“It was different than I thought. I thought the animals would be on a conveyor belt and the employees would be cutting up the animals one by one.” said Sophomore, Daija Chomicki.

Students learned to appreciate the true meaning of farming and how long of a process they go through in order to make the food safe enough for Americans to eat and enjoy at home with their families.

“I appreciate the process of how our food is made, because the process itself takes longer and the upkeep is hard.” said Sophomore Amanda Silverstein.

There were things that these Tosa West students learned on their field trip that other students should really take from their experience to better understand the process of raising animals to make food and then being able to enjoy it at home with their families.

“I think that the students at West should know the benefits of organic food and should appreciate how our food makes it to our plate.” says Sophomore Amanda Silverstein.

The places that the students visited, included very important information that they can use for their knowledge about where everyone’s food comes from. From the field to your plate, it is definitely a process.