MITCH Agriculture & Seed Rematriation Program 
Similar to Art, Music, or PE class, students at MITCH attend agriculture classes outside of their core classroom instruction. These classes are scheduled on a quarterly basis, for a total of 8 classes throughout the year. Teachers are able to integrate these lessons into core classroom instruction, as they connect to the Core Knowledge content that drives MITCH's curricular program. 

Agriculture classes are taught by MITCH's Agriculture Assistant in a variety of educational environments spanning the school garden, greenhouse, field, and classrooms. 

The MITCH Agriculture Program is driven by the MITCH Mission to teach confident leaders serving our community, nation and world. It is centered in our vision to build a school where every child experiences a sense of belonging and excels academically through deep, agricultural and inquiry-based learning that is grounded in the Core Knowledge Sequence.

In alignment with these values, students learn about a practice called Indigenous seed rematriation, or the returning of seeds to their original owners. This is done under the guidance of the Indigenous communities we serve: The Makah Nation, The Hopi Nation, the Cherokee Nation, and Indigenous Oaxacan farmers at the local nonprofit, Adelante Mujeres. 

The Agriculture Program organizes 3 annual field trips to Our Table Cooperative, a local, biodynamic and community owned farm. Throughout the year, students focus on a variety of topics, including: pollinators, seeds, and soil health. 
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Below, you will find the focus and student-facing material of each grade-level. Lessons are aligned to Common Core, Oregon's Tribal History/Shared History, and Teaching for Justice's Social Justice Standards. To learn more about MITCH's Agriculture Program, please contact Caitlin Blood at cblood @mitchcharterschool.org or check out the publications below. ​

Kindergarten

Kindergarteners at MITCH learn about the Makah Nation and the Makah Ozette Potato from Makah Culture and Language Teacher, Yvonne Wilkie. Together, they plant, grow, and return these seeds to the Makah Nation. These lessons align with the Native American domain in Core Knowledge.

Publications
The Story of a Seed, 2021
The Voice of a Seed, 2022
Teaching the Culture of Agrobiodiversity, 2022

1st Grade

1st graders at MITCH learn about Oaxacan Green Corn from Indigenous Zapotec communities in Oaxaca. In partnership with local non-profit Adelante Mujeres, students plant, grow, dry and return these seeds to Oaxacan farmers in Forest Grove, Oregon. These lessons align with the Ancient Mesoamerican domain in Core Knowledge, but teach students that indigenous communities and cultures in Latin America are alive and well today.

2nd Grade

2nd graders at MITCH learn about the Cherokee Trail of Tears Bean. Students plant, grow, dry and return these seeds to the Cherokee Nation. These lessons align with the Core Knowledge domain that explores the European invasion of America in the 1800s.

​We are currently seeking partnership with members of the Cherokee Nation to rematriate this seed. To support this effort, please email cblood@ mitchcharterschool.org. 

3rd Grade

3rd graders at MITCH learn about the Hopi Black Dye Sunflower. In partnership with Jayson Paymella at the Hopi Foundation, students plant, grow, harvest, and return these seeds to the Hopi Garden Project at Homlovi. These lessons align with the Native American domain in Core Knowledge.

4th Grade

4th graders at MITCH learn about the Cherokee Nation's North Georgia Candy Roaster Winter Squash. Together they plant, grow, and work toward returning these seeds to the Cherokee Nation. These lessons align with Oregon's Tribal History/Shared History Curriculum, implemented via SB13. MITCH is currently seeking partnership with members of the Cherokee Nation to rematriate this seed. To support this effort, please email cblood@ mitchcharterschool.org. 

5th Grade

5th graders at MITCH learn about Hopi Red Dye Amaranth. In partnership with Jayson Paymella at the Hopi Foundation, students plant, grow, harvest, and return these seeds to the Hopi Garden Project at Homlovi. These lessons align with the Ancient Mesoamerican domain in Core Knowledge, but teach students that indigenous communities and culture in Latin America are alive and well today.