Murphy High School Farm-to-Table program connects food, farming and the culinary arts

For years, Murphy High School's science, math and culinary teachers had envisioned a farm-to- table "teaching farm" program, where students could learn how to grow and cook healthy foods. However, it wasn't until Spire reached out to Murphy in 2021 as a part of the company’s Connected Through Cooking community initiative that the necessary funding was provided to establish the teaching farm and supporting curriculum. This initiative focuses on helping provide access to and education about healthy, sustainable foods.

The Murphy Farm-to-Table program provides students and the surrounding community the tools necessary for successful small-impact farming and supports healthy eating and cooking.

A dream takes shape

Located on the 28-acre Murphy High School campus (within the Mobile County Public School System in Alabama), it’s the first farm-to-table program and farm focused on teaching area students. The farm-to-table program was officially dedicated in August 2022, just in time for the new school year and expanded science curriculum.  

In addition to planting, weeding and harvesting produce in the gardens, students research plants to identify preferred selections, use engineering and math skills to design beds and layout gardens, and develop recipes for cooking healthy meals using produce grown on the farm. 

Spire’s support also enabled Murphy to extend the program’s reach to younger learners and provide resources to improve nutritional security for the community.  Elementary school students from the Council Traditional School and middle school students from Phillips Preparatory School will participate in hands-on learning at the farm, and local produce grown at the farm is being sourced to local area food desert communities.

“Providing access to and education about healthy foods that can be grown locally is part of Spire’s commitment to the communities we serve,” said Joe Hampton. “We are here to support the Murphy teachers and staff who worked to create the program, the students who will learn from it, and the community who will share in its benefits. Through this farm and program, we’re proud to play a part in cultivating a future filled with healthy eating for the Mobile community.”

The farm takes shape

Work on the farm and garden began in the summer of 2022, and it continues to grow. By the end of the 2022-2023 school year, Murphy staff and students:

• Built and prepared 31 raised beds 
• Planted a blueberry grove with 20 bushes
• Built an 800-sq. ft. greenhouse
• Planted six fruit trees planted (persimmon, loquat, fig, orange and grapefruit) with ten more planned 
• Created an outdoor teaching area with ten student benches
• Added two organic liquid fertilizer totes with solar powered pumps
• Constructed a metal shed -- built by students -- for tools and supplies 

Growing talent

With a focus on science, math and culinary arts curriculum, the farm-to-table program offers students immersive experiences and exposure to future careers. 

“To have a science program like this that is going to lead students not only into engineering and other great science professions but also provide them with the opportunity to learn about agriculture and take food from the earth to their table is tremendously important,” Hampton said. “We were very excited to partner with Murphy High School and the Mobile County School System on this endeavor.”

Hands-on help

In addition to providing funding for the program, Spire employees volunteered to help build 10 seed growing tables, two planting tables and additional raised beds.