Marion Institute Grow Education

05/13/2026

Take a virtual field trip with our Marion Institute Grow Education program to explore regenerative farming and the vital role soil health plays in sustainable agriculture! 🌍✨

🎥 Huge shoutout to cinematographer, Ethan de Aguiar and a special thank you to the incredible local farmers and business owners who made this video possible. Meet four inspiring farmers who use animals to care for the land and build healthy soil:

🐝 Sunny Side Apiary (West Wareham, MA)
🌱 The Ivory Silo Seed Project (Westport, MA)
🌿 Farmacy Herbs (Providence, RI)
🚜 Round the Bend Farm (Dartmouth, MA)
🐔 Pat's Pastured (East Greenwich, RI)
🐄 Paradox Acres (Dartmouth, MA)
🐐 Goatbusters (Dartmouth, MA)
🍽️ UMass Dartmouth Dining Service Team

Join us as we bring students on virtual tours to learn about food, farming, and sustainability! 🌾🐄🐔

Learn more about our Grow Education Farm to School program: marioninstitute.org // link in bio.

05/13/2026

You're invited to join us to discuss & support the important farm-to-school work the Marion Institute is leading in elementary schools across New Bedford and the Southcoast!

Interested in a sponsorship? Email: [email protected]!

Learn more here: marioninstitute.org/grow-education-fundraiser-2025 // link in bio (events).

05/13/2026

More details from our Grow Education Farm-to-School Fundraiser last week...

Who's ready for Boogie at the Bog??!! Save the date: Thursday, October 9th.

marioninstitute.org

05/13/2026

WHAT IF... a simple school garden could change the way a child sees the world? 🌱

In elementary schools across Southeastern Massachusetts, our Grow Education Farm-to-School program is doing just that — sparking curiosity, building healthy habits, and reconnecting children to the food they eat... all while learning!

Students dig, plant, and harvest, discovering the magic of fresh, local food and the pride of growing it themselves. These experiences don’t just fill plates — they plant seeds of confidence, resilience, and care for our planet.

Now, more than ever, it’s our community that will keep these gardens growing strong. Together, we can ensure local students continue to learn, taste, and grow in ways that last a lifetime.

Let’s keep planting seeds for the next generation.

Please consider getting involved in our Grow Education Farm-to-School program. Learn more on marioninstitute.org.

05/13/2026

When gardens rest for the winter, learning continues. Through our Grow Education program's virtual field trips, students explore the systems that make food grow — and this month, that meant learning about bees, beekeeping, and the vital role pollinators play, topped off with a sweet local honey taste test.

Learn more about Grow Education and watch out virtual field trips here: https://www.marioninstitute.org/programs/grow-education

05/13/2026

Third and fourth grade Tri-town students get their hands dirty and thumbs green with the Marion Institute’s Grow Education program, bringing experimental learning to the outdoors.

Started in New Bedford, Grow Education has been around for over ten years — initiated by the Marion Institute and focusing on getting kids outdoors to learn about farming, food and healthy living.

The program has been implemented in 24 schools including Sippican School and six school districts, but continues to expand having just been introduced to Old Hammondtown Elementary and Rochester Memorial School.

Read full Sippican Week article here:

MATTAPOISETT — Third and fourth grade Tri-town students get their hands dirty and thumbs green with the Marion Institute’s Grow Education program, bringing experimental learning to the outdoors. Started in New Bedford, Grow Education has been around for over ten years — initiated by the Marion...

05/13/2026

A big thank you to the Coast of Maine Organic Products, Inc. Growing Good Program for generously donating compost to support our Grow Education school gardens once again this season. Their continued partnership helps keep our raised beds healthy and thriving for hands-on student learning.

We’re also grateful to our local partners at Aubuchon Ace Hardware in Wareham and Ace Hardware in Dartmouth for helping make this support possible.

05/06/2026

We’re excited to announce a new partnership with Fall River Public Schools!

This fall, Grow Education will take root in Westall, Tansey, and Watson Elementary Schools and will welcome brand-new raised bed gardens as part of our farm-to-school work. These gardens are being built by students in Durfee High School’s Construction Craft Laborer program, with a total of 21 beds—7 at each school—being installed in the coming weeks.

Designed for durability and accessibility, these raised beds will serve as outdoor classrooms where third-grade students will explore the plant lifecycle, nutrition, and the environment—growing not just fruits and vegetables, but lifelong healthy habits.

From the classroom to the cafeteria to the community, Grow Education brings hands-on learning to life.

01/30/2026

❄️🌱 When school gardens rest, learning keeps growing.

See how our Grow Education Farm-to-School students stay connected to food, farming, and community all winter!

Read the full story on the blog: https://www.marioninstitute.org/farm-to-school-in-winter/

01/21/2026

Connection. Celebration. Purpose.
Join us for Roots & Revelry, an intimate evening marking a new chapter in growing a healthier, more equitable food system.

📅 Saturday, 5/2/26
📍 The Zeiterion , New Bedford, MA

Save the date—more details coming soon.