Ashford Family Farms
Enhance community literacy, cultivate hands on learning experiences and integrate STEM
{Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics} principles through gardening education
Foster community literacy and STEM knowledge with practical gardening education.
Ashford Family Farms
Dexter Ashford lives in Columbia, SC with his wife, Connie, and their daughter, Carrie. Dexter earned both his BS and his MS degrees in Agribusiness from South Carolina State University. He is the owner of Ashford Family Farms, LLC and the founder of The Urban Farming Project, a movement to teach people how to grow big food in small spaces. He hosted the Urban Farming Project Conference in June of 2018 to share with his audience several concepts of urban growing and various uses of land plots both big and small. Mr. Ashford has also started a hydroponic grow house that can be used to produce fresh food year round. Additionally, he has hosted planting days for community organizations and has spoken to incarcerated youth about the importance of healthy food production in their communities. Mr. Ashford founded the Urban Farming Project Farmers Market, which ran from April to August and served primarily local food desert areas. He now teaches basic gardening skills in schools and community centers in his local area.
OUR BOOKS
CARRIE GOES FARMING NARRATIVE
In "Carrie Goes Farming," I, as the author, aimed to weave a narrative that celebrates the black family's unity and highlights the pivotal role of the father. Through the story, readers follow Carrie, the star of the tale, as she engages in a family project centered around gardening. However, beneath the surface, the storyline subtly positions the father as the driving force, emphasizing his connection with both the activity and his daughter. The book not only imparts a basic skill but also paints a positive picture of the black family, showcasing their collaborative efforts and the father's crucial involvement in shaping their shared experiences. It's a narrative that aims to inspire and shed light on the strength and togetherness within the black family unit
Join Carrie and the Garden Guardians on an exciting adventure!
Carrie loves helping her dad with gardening, but when she discovers that their garden is under attack, she reveals her secret: she's a superhero! With her trusty Garden Guardians - Jackie the Yellow jacket, Powerful Praying Mantis, Lovely Lady Bug, and Agile Assassin Bug - by her side, they're a force to be reckoned with! Together, they'll stomp out the Bad Bug Gang and save their precious veggies from ruin!
KID'S GUIDE TO GARDENING LIKE A PRO
Embark on an educational voyage with the "Kids' Guide to Gardening Like a Pro," specially tailored for students in grades 5 to 8. This vibrant curriculum is not just a textbook; it's a captivating exploration into the world of gardening, brought to life with colorful illustrations and interactive content. Through its engaging approach, students are transported into an immersive experience where learning about gardening becomes both enjoyable and enriching.
Within the pages of this guide, students will uncover the foundational principles essential to successful gardening. From understanding the intricacies of soil composition to unraveling the mysteries of plant life cycles, each aspect is presented in a clear and accessible manner, sparking curiosity and enthusiasm among young learners. Moreover, the guide is brimming with hands-on activities designed to reinforce these concepts, encouraging students to get their hands dirty as they plant seeds, nurture seedlings, and engage in team-based garden maintenance.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
At Ashford Family Farms, we are committed to fostering community literacy and STEM-based learning through our gardening education programs. Through our carefully curated reading materials, we aim to enhance literacy by offering entertaining, enlightening, and practically useful content. Our classroom demonstrations provide students with hands-on experiences in beginning gardening practices, allowing them to cultivate skills and knowledge firsthand. By integrating science into gardening education, we offer a unique opportunity for students to explore STEM principles in a practical setting. Additionally, our programs emphasize social-emotional learning by encouraging teamwork, patience, and responsibility through the shared experience of gardening. By nurturing these skills, we help students develop emotional intelligence alongside their academic growth. Through these initiatives, we strive to empower learners with the tools and knowledge needed to become informed and skilled members of their communities.
PROGRAM GOALS
The goal of the Ashford Family Farms education program is to enhance community literacy, cultivate hands-on learning experiences, and integrate STEM principles through gardening education. By providing entertaining, enlightening, and practically useful reading materials, we aim to improve community literacy levels, fostering reading engagement and knowledge acquisition among participants. Through classroom demonstrations and practical experiences, students will gain firsthand knowledge of beginning gardening practices, enhancing comprehension, retention, and valuable gardening skills. Additionally, by integrating science into gardening education, we strive to align with STEM principles, exposing students to botany, ecology, soil science, and other scientific concepts in a practical setting. This integration promotes critical thinking, problem-solving, and scientific inquiry skills, empowering learners to become informed and skilled members of their communities. Furthermore, our gardening programs emphasize social-emotional learning by fostering teamwork, patience, and responsibility through collaborative gardening activities. These experiences help students develop emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills, contributing to their overall personal growth and well-being.
OBJECTIVES
1. Gardening
2. Outdoor Education
3. Therapeutic Benefits Of Gardening For Students
4. Social emotional learning through gardening
Book Orders
Level 1 - 100 - 999 Bulk
Book Order
Book Pricing
Book Price Reduction To $19.99 Per Book
Book Orders
Level 2 - 1000 - 1999 Bulk
Book Order
Book Pricing
Book Price Reduction To $18.99 Per Book
Available
Authors Reading Available
Book Orders
Level 3 - 2000
Greater Bulk Book Order
Book Pricing
Book Price Reduction To $17.99 Per Book
Available
Authors Reading
Available
Contact Information:
Phone: (803) 262-3636
Email: ashfordfamilyfarms@gmail.com
Website: Dexter@Ashfordfamilyfarms.com