Day Trip to: Seeds of Change

Seeds of Change in Anchorage is a worthwhile day trip, ideal for kids in 3rd - 12th.  It is an indoor hydroponic farm that is maintained, under supervision, by Anchorage youth.  

Year-round, but especially in winter, this place is a haven of lush greens, herbs, and veggies grown using state-of-the-art methods that are then sold locally.  Proceeds benefit Anchorage Community Mental Health Services

They offer free tours an even a little quiz (and often a free bag of produce!) at the end. Find more information here, and use this contact form to ask about setting up a visit.

Supplemental/Expansion Ideas:

• have your child write an essay or letter to a friend about the experience - brainstorm all of the things your child remembers and/or found interesting and develop an essay as specific and general as you choose and is appropriate for them
• compare and contrast hydroponic agriculture to other forms of agriculture
• have your child create a list of questions they still have and use that as a springboard
• have your child write a thank you note to the tour leader
• use this experience as a segue into hydroponic agriculture, basic plant biology, or any number of curiosities sparked during the tour (take notes!) - visit the library and YouTube, etc.
• help your child create a meal centered around your produce sample, or film a 
  "cooking show" with them as the star.  
  
• Have a taste test comparing Seeds of Change produce to Costco, etc.  Have student create a cost chart/table comparing the price of each or transportation/resources required to make each option available, etc.
• have your child create a piece of art using a limited palette from the colors you saw in the indoor farm (greens) or consider having them draw and label the different leaves they came home with in their sample 
• create a vocabulary list from your visit, having your child create new sentences using the new terms they learned
• make a list of things they sensed in this place (5 senses) and use this as a springboard for a writing or art project
• make a photo slideshow/photo essay together - better yet, bring a camera they can use and encourage them to photograph the experience and then create their photo essay later
• research hydroponic gardening as a career - where are their jobs available?  what kinds of jobs are available? what school is required?  
• discuss how an why hydroponic (indoor) gardening could be beneficial in places like Alaska - research who relies on this agricultural method most and why, or use this as segue to discuss the history of agriculture
• research and discuss the health benefits of including vegetables in your diet - what are the advantages to using locally grown vegetables?  Are their any disadvantages?  
• if you wanted to use this visit as a springboard to a discussion about community service, mental health, etc., you can also check out their parent organization: https://acmhs.com/about/about-us/

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