Suffolk County looking at ways to get ‘ag-ed’ in schools

SUFFOLK COUNTY

While most local schools don’t offer formal agricultural studies classes, Southold and Cutchogue East elementary schools, have incorporated school gardens into their curricula, said Southold School District Superintendent David Gamberg.

“I can see firsthand evidence of students and teachers that have embraced the use of the school garden as a means of teaching students about agricultural practices, health and wellness,” Mr. Gamberg said.

Kids are not only learning about the science of plant life cycles, they put their math skills into practice by measuring and planning the garden’s layout. They also harvest and sell their produce, which teaches them about business and entrepreneurship, he added.

Mr. Bellone visited the Southold school garden to learn more about its program during “Earthfest,” an event held Friday that featured guest presenters from farming and environmental advocacy groups.

The county executive said he’d like to see similar programs and events at other Suffolk County schools.

In terms of higher education within the county, high school juniors and seniors have the option — albeit a little-known one — of studying horticulture or animal science, programs that have been around since the 1980s, said Peggie Staib, associate superintendent for educational services at Eastern Suffolk BOCES, which operates the H.B. Ward Technical and Academic Center in Riverhead.

“Students maintain their own greenhouses,” she said. “They learn floral design and everything from planting to harvesting to entrepreneurship, which is required in any self-employed business.”

She said there is potential opportunity for integrating agricultural studies into programs that will be offered at BOCES’ new STEM-based (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) high school in Bellport, which is opening in September.

Suffolk County Community College once offered a horticultural program, but it was discontinued eight years ago due to a “lack of interest” among students, spokesperson Drew Biondo said.

If there is a demonstrated interest, he added, school officials would evaluate whether to begin offering it again.