Denver Green School Community Farm
The Denver Green School Community Farm is a one-acre organic vegetable farm established in the spring of 2011 on the grounds of the Denver Green School in partnership with Denver Public Schools.
DGS is a Title 1 neighborhood public K-8 school in southeast Denver focused on teaching the concepts of sustainability, and serving diverse SE Denver neighborhoods. In 2018, Denver Public Schools’ School Performance Framework rated Denver Green School as a top-performing school: #8 out of all 203 public schools in Denver, and the highest-rated middle school in the District. Not only that, but the student body is incredibly diverse, with 42 countries represented!
From the time they opened their doors for the 2010-2011 school year, the DGS leadership team wanted to grow as much food as possible on their campus for their school meals—that’s why they invited Sprout City Farms in as a partner to accomplish this mission!
The farm produces an average of 10,000 lbs of food a year, and provides fresh produce to:
the school cafeteria, where 71% of students receive Free/Reduced Lunch, through a first-of-its-kind on-site Farm to Cafeteria program,
families of the school and community through a 70-share CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program (50% of shares are allocated at no-cost for low-income households),
a low-cost (donation-based) weekly Youth Farm Stand manned by 6th grade interns on Wednesdays after school,
cooking demonstrations and classes,
and produce donations to the school food pantry and special school events.
SCF also hosts numerous educational programs and community events throughout the year, including workshops, field trips, tours, farm camp, an after-school enrichment program, internships, apprenticeships, and volunteer days for all ages.
We set a big precedent partnering with the public school district to host a production farm on school grounds and supply the kitchen with the food grown. Now that land use agreements, partnership contracts, food safety protocols and purchasing agreements are all in place, we’d love to see this model spread like wildfire. Because who can resist a chorus of children singing “Dirt made my lunch—Thank you Dirt, thanks a bunch!”
The farm is located in the SE corner of the schoolyard, at 6700 E Virginia Ave, Denver, CO 80224. Parking is on the street along Virginia Avenue or Niagara Street, or in the parking lot of BMH-BJ Synagogue off of Niagara St. From Virginia Ave, walk across the playground to arrive at the farm. From Niagara St, enter school grounds through the garden gate at the SW corner of the school building, and walk across the community/school garden to arrive at the farm. You’ll find us by the big blue tent!
