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The Food and Agriculture Literacy Center at Mykawa Farm
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Mykawa Farm is a 6.5-acre property in Houston's Sunnyside neighborhood. On the property stands a nearly 100-year old school, one of the oldest in Harris County. The original one-room school house was built in 1919. The second and third rooms were added in 1923. The school and one of the roads that border the farm are named for Shinpei Mykawa, a Japanese immigrant who brought rice farming to Houston.
The constant sounds of planes, trains, and automobiles remind us that this is an urban farm in the fourth largest city in the USA.
Mykawa Farm is the home of Houston ISD Nutrition Services Food and Agriculture Literacy Center. Houston ISD students visit the farm on field trips. Hands-on experiences help them develop more than a consumer relationship with food and explore educational and career pathways in food and agriculture. Here are a few things students said after visiting the farm:
"Going to the Mykawa Farm inspired me to eat better." - Jazleen, 5th grade
"The vegetables were the best I ever tasted, makes me want to eat salad every day!" - Josephine, 3rd grade
"I wish school was at the Mykawa Farm everyday" - Briny, 5th grade
"I loved exploring what bees do in their hives and how they mark the queen bees" -Natalia, 5th grade
"Mykawa Farm is the best place to spend a nice full day learning about agriculture." - Juniper, 5th grade
"I loved harvesting lettuce, I have never harvested a plant before!" - Tony, 5th grade
"The feeling of creating something I'm gonna eat is heartwarming." - Charles, 3rd grade
Mykawa Farm FAQs
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Can I visit the farm?
Currently, field trips are open to groups from Houston ISD schools.
We also host volunteer days for businesses and community groups (scouts for example).
Corporate exhibit sponsors, environmental educators, potential volunteer group leaders, donors and other partners can request private tours by contacting Matt Graham.
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I work for Houston ISD. What are the steps to reserve a field trip date and plan our visit?
Houston ISD staff can follow the directions below to reserve a field trip date and prepare to bring students to Mykawa Farm.
Mykawa Farm is an approved Title I field trip. This means Title I funds can be used to pay for buses. Sack lunches will be prepared by your school cafeteria, and there are no per-student fees. This is potentially a FREE field trip!
We run the same program in the Fall and Spring. Please do not schedule the same students on more than one trip to the farm in the same school year. We want as many students to have this experience as possible! We recommend making it a special trip for one specific grade level and sending that grade level every year.
Once you reserve a date on the booking app, your reservation is not finalized. To keep your date reserved, within 5 school days of creating your booking, you must complete all of these tasks:
- Print the Sponsor's Request for Approval of Field Trip and get your principal to sign it.
- Contact your cafeteria's team lead to request lunches for your students.
- Contact the staff member who reserves field trip buses for transportation. Ask them to complete the Field Trip Service Request Form. Confirm they have completed it. *If you are paying for buses with Title I funds, follow the directions in the Title I Field Trip document to complete this request form.
- Email Matt Graham at matthew.graham@houstonisd.org when you have completed steps 1-3 or if you have any questions or concerns.
Failure to meet these requirements will result in automatic release of your field trip date, so the opportunity can be made available to other students.
If you are ready to reserve your field trip date, please use this booking link:
**After selecting your date, you must click 9am to the right of the calendar. You will get a confirmation email if you are successful.
See you on the farm!
--The Food and Agriculture Literacy Team
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What activities do visitors get to do?
Our activities allow visitors to connect with nature and other people, explore careers in food and agriculture, and grow and eat good food.
Current activities include:
- planting crops (greens, carrots)
- watering crops
- harvesting crops (cucumbers, green beans)
- tasting crops (cucumbers, green beans, and herbs)
- scouting crops for pest and disease damage
- designing and testing a natural play area
- composting
- observing decomposers (worms, snails, pill bugs, etc)
- observing pollinators (butterflies, bees, etc)
- exploring the sensory garden maze
- and more!
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What should visitors bring / wear?
All visitors should wear:
- closed toe shoes (no Crocs!)
- long pants
- sun protection (long sleeves, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)
All visitors should bring:
- a refillable water bottle
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What kinds of animals are there?
This is the first question many young visitors ask. While we do not currently care for livestock (horses, cows, chickens, pigs, goats), there are lots of animals to see. From microscopic composting bacteria to insects, worms, birds, reptiles and small mammals, Mykawa Farm is teeming with life!
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Will we be outside the whole time?
Yes! A visit to the farm is a great way to connect with nature.
Please note that there are no indoor facilities and the restroom facilities are porta-potties.
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What if it rains?
Our staff monitor weather at the farm.
We will inform you as early as possible if we need to cancel the field trip.
Please do not assume the field trip is canceled if it is raining at your home or school.
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How much does it cost?
There are no per-student fees associated with bringing Houston ISD students to Mykawa Farm!
Sack lunches should be arranged with your school cafeteria team lead.
Buses must be paid for through the transportation department, BUT Title 1 funds can be used to pay for buses.
So, yes, this is potentially a FREE FIELD TRIP!
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How can I donate to Mykawa Farm?
