San Tan Charter School Launches Weekly Farmers Market

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        September 15, 2022

 

Contact:  Kristofer Sippel

CEO/Superintendent of Schools

San Tan Charter School Inc.

480-222-0811

 

San Tan Charter School Launches Weekly Farmers Market, Selling Seeds and Produce Harvested from the School’s Outdoor Environment

Go Green: A Montessori Market, Will Be Open Every Friday from 3-3:45 p.m. Outside the Montessori Preschool Entrance

 

GILBERT, Arizona—Since San Tan Charter School created its Outdoor Environment, students and staff alike have spent countless enjoyable hours in the space learning to grow plants, take care of animals and harvest produce.

In order to literally share the bounty of the Outdoor Environment with the public, San Tan Charter School will begin hosting a Farmers Market on September 16, 2022.

The Farmers Market, which is called Go Green: A Montessori Market, will take place every Friday from 3-3:45 p.m. outside the school’s Montessori Preschool entrance, at 3959 E. Elliot Road in Gilbert.

“Go Green: A Montessori Market will sell a variety of seeds including sunflower, celery and carrot, all harvested from our garden, handmade paper with pressed flowers, produce from the garden, herbs and fresh popcorn,” said Clarissa Pollack, Montessori Outdoor Environment Lead at San Tan Montessori Preschool.

“We will also sell paper flowers as well as seasonal starts that people can bring home to plant their own autumn gardens and farm fresh eggs.”

The school plans to add more items to sell over time, and as new things grow in the garden, Pollack said; current crops in the gardens at San Tan Montessori Preschool include sunflowers, zinnias, black-eyed peas, zucchini, butternut squash, sweet corn, along with some exotic experimental crops like edamame and okra.

Outdoor Environment teacher Tanna Dean said she and everyone involved with the garden space at San Tan Charter School are looking forward to not only selling some of the harvested produce and other items, but also sharing their enthusiasm for growing some of their own food.

“With my students, we have been focusing on plants that they like to eat including how they like to eat them and what they need to grow in the garden,” Dean said, adding that after studying “The Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County” from the University of Arizona, her students vote on what they would like to grow and eat from the garden.

“I can say for certain that the most popular vegetable is carrots, eaten raw.”

Pollack said she also hopes that the Farmers Market will inspire shoppers to plant their own garden, or at the very least to spend more time outside.

“We are giving our students and community a great gift with the outdoor environment experience we offer, and I am excited for us to share our joy from this experience with the community,” she said.

***ADDITIONAL PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST***For more information about the Outdoor Environment and the Farmers Market and/or to interview teachers, and/or students, please contact Kris Sippel at 480-222-0811.

About San Tan Charter School:

San Tan Charter School is a Kinder-12th grade public non-profit tuition free charter school with two campuses in the East Valley within minutes of each other. The Power campus is a Junior High/High School serving students in grades 7-12 and the Recker campus is an elementary school serving students K-6 including a private Montessori preschool and K-6 tuition free Montessori classrooms. The school uses a Love and Logic® approach to classroom management that is focused on building relationships and communicating with respect. The school focuses on “Education with a Purpose,” which means the teachers encourage their students’ love of learning, which enables them to face challenges and develop critical thinking skills. San Tan Charter School also offers a championship athletics experience 5th through 12th grade and PE daily K-6. San Tan Charter School is focused on maximizing each student’s intellectual development with a Gifted program K-12, Honors/AP classes, Concurrent/Dual Enrollment classes and elective choices including career and technical education (CTE)-Culinary and Aviation as well as the opportunity for Juniors and Seniors to attend EVIT half day. For more information, please visit https://santancharterschool.com/