On Nov. 20, plant science students from Pagosa Springs High School stepped out of their classroom and into Archuleta County’s food system.
As part of a growing partnership between Healthy Archuleta, the high school plant science class and local organizations, students spent the day learning firsthand how food moves through our community, from seed to soil, from kitchen to table, and from packaging to recycling.
This field trip is one piece of the food system curriculum developed by Healthy Archuleta. The curriculum helps youth understand where their food comes from, who is involved in preparing and distributing it, and how our community works together to keep residents nourished.
“By engaging youth directly in our county’s food system,” said a Healthy Archuleta team member, “we help them build knowledge, confidence and a sense of connection to the health and resilience of our community.”
The day began with students stepping inside climate-controlled dome greenhouses designed to grow food year-round. They learned about sustainable growing techniques and the technology that protects crops from Colorado’s unpredictable weather.
One student shared the realization that, “… if you grow it inside, you really don’t have to worry about weather.”
Students then had the opportunity to see how fresh ingredients turn into homemade salsa, discovering how cooking can bring a community together.
As one student noted, “The community can come together to eat various types of foods of different cultures.”
With fresh flavors still on their minds, they traveled to see a busy commercial kitchen in action.
“The kitchen has more room than the one at my house,” a student noted. “There are also a lot more machines here than at my house.”
During the journey, students were also introduced to what happens when food is shared.
At the Healthy Archuleta Food Distribution Center, they learned how donated items are stored and distributed to the local food pantries across Archuleta County. They also helped plant seedlings in the grow towers to start lettuce production for distribution to food pantries through the food distribution center. The students saw how these support services help families facing financial challenges access healthy food options.
“Feeding people good food that they can’t afford for free,” one student reflected, “and it brings the community together.”
To understand the full life cycle of food, including what happens after packaging and containers are used, the students ended their day at the local transfer station. There, they observed recycling equipment, learned about waste streams and even noticed how much cardboard moves through the county during different seasons.
As one student said with surprise, “It’s cool, and we know how much cardboard we use those months.”
From growing domes to bakery ovens, warehouse shelves to recycling balers, every stop along the route expanded the students’ understanding of the local food system. They returned to school with new perspectives on the complexity and the community teamwork behind every meal.
Healthy Archuleta looks forward to continuing this collaboration with teachers, students, local businesses and community partners.
By turning learning into lived experience, this partnership is helping cultivate the next generation of informed leaders who care about food access, local agriculture and sustainability in Archuleta County.
Together, we are growing curiosity, strengthening community, and inspiring youth to be part of the food system that nourishes us all.
To learn more about Healthy Archuleta, please visit our website at www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org.
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