Plumas Charter School is sowing the seeds of collaboration through its newly announced partnership with the Lost Sierra Food Project (LSFP). The program is designed to cultivate hands-on learning and sustainable agricultural practices among students.
The partnership will introduce PCS students to real-world experiences in organic farming, nutrition and environmental stewardship. Lessons will be tied to LSFP’s operations, providing access to farm facilities and interactive workshops aimed at fostering a deeper connection to local food systems.
Bethany Rouse, program manager of LSFP, said the partnership is an effort to build bridges between three local agriculture education programs—PCS, LSFP, and Feather River College. “Our goal is to strengthen agriculture education programs across all age groups while offering employment opportunities to apply learned skills and knowledge.”
Through funding provided by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and support from UC Berkeley GrizzlyCorp, PCS is developing and implementing a garden education curriculum available to students in first through eighth grade. PCS high school students can participate in the agriscience career and technical education pathway program and also have the opportunity to apply for LSFP’s summer internship program hosted on Rugged Roots Farm. The garden class, agriscience pathway and the internship program offer students hands-on learning, concepts in science, transferable job skills related to food and agriculture and outdoor education.
Together, PCS and the LSFP applied for and were awarded a USDA NIFA K-12 Grant titled the Feather River Food System Initiative. The USDA NIFA grant will fund initiatives to enhance agricultural education and promote local food systems, providing even more resources for students and the community. “This funding connects students to agriculture concepts in the classroom, to opportunities at Rugged Roots Farm, to ecological farming courses offered at Feather River College,” said Rouse.
PCS CTE agriculture and natural resources pathway coordinator Esa Morrison emphasized the significance of the partnership in expanding student learning opportunities. “We are so grateful to have such an amazing resource as LSFP in our mountain community. Not only do we get to visit a high-altitude farm in our town, but also to be able to partner with them for food education and garden development on our own site. We look forward to growing a beautiful and educational garden with the help of LSFP that our students can find fulfillment and responsibility in supporting its evolution.”
Students will participate in activities that go beyond the classroom, such as planting and harvesting crops, exploring food supply chains and understanding the environmental impact of farming practices. The program is expected to spark curiosity and empower students to think critically about the origins of their food and how it impacts their community and the planet.
The Lost Sierra Food Project, a nonprofit organization based in Plumas County, has been a local leader in sustainable food advocacy. The group operates Rugged Roots Farm in Quincy and promotes access to healthy, locally produced food for all community members.
PCS, which emphasizes personalized and project-based learning, sees the initiative as part of its broader mission to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for real-world success. School officials hope the program will not only enhance student education but also inspire broader interest in agriculture as a career path.