Barclay Taylor is a Career and Technical Education teacher at Pisgah High School, currently teaching horticulture, plant production, and landscaping in grades 9 to 12. Over the past year, Barclay and other Pisgah High CTE teachers worked with ASAP’s Growing Minds to deepen the farm to school focus within their horticulture, food science, and animal science curricula and become farm to school ambassadors to elementary students. In addition to providing funding, training, and other resources, the Growing Minds project encouraged the CTE team to think more holistically about the crossover in their own classes.
In addition to his work in education, Barclay is deeply connected to agriculture through his parents, who own KT’s Orchard and Apiary in Canton. Their farm—which offers u-pick as well as value-added products like jam and honey—is part of ASAP’s Farm Tour on Sept. 20-21.
Tell us about the work you’re doing at Pisgah High School?
I have assisted with Kindergarten Day, where we bring local kindergarten classes in the county and introduce them to agriculture subjects. They do anything from tasting different foods to seeing farm animals and learning about animal care and physiology. At my former school, we built a fruit garden with the students and planted different fruit trees, fruit bushes, and berries of all sorts. They harvest and maintain those. This past year we did some raised beds at Pisgah High School just outside of the Agriculture Department with the help of ASAP. That food that we are growing there helps support the Food and Allied Sciences classes. They use it for cooking.
What did working with Growing Minds over the last year give you?
Other than money for the raised beds, ASAP has helped us network with local farms, set up connections through agriculture business, and has given us assistance for field trips including to Darnell Farms. We have an agriculture business class, so these connections can [help students learn about] the marketing side of things. My biggest concern for kids who have a desire to go into agriculture, they may have a good idea but they need to find a good market to realize that idea.
What do you see the value is for kids attending these classes and learning where their food comes from?
It’s definitely needed. We have this disconnect now. It’s hard for me to believe that this would ever have happened. We have this huge disconnect from our food and agriculture in general. When you ask kids where milk or eggs come from, they say the grocery store. About 10 years ago, I could ask my kids in the first week of school if they grew up on a farm or raised a garden, and 90 percent would raise their hands. It’s probably less than 20 percent now, and we live in a rural community. So, if it’s not happening in a rural community, then it’s definitely not happening in an urban community. The disconnect of not knowing where our food comes from is a major problem because the next generation coming up is going to be setting the laws and the standards. If they don’t have a good understanding of agriculture then I think we are on a challenging road.
How has your mom, KT Taylor, influenced what you do around farm to school work?
Growing up, we always farmed. We were always gardening, and I hated it at the time. My parents made me do it! It’s kind of funny how divine intervention works because now I teach it, so it was all in preparation. In 2002, my parents decided to start the orchard [KT’s Orchard and Apiary] and I was a big part of helping with planting, harvesting, and maintaining the grounds. I’m always working for them, and whatever they are into I’m usually into. I know she is excited to be on ASAP’s Farm Tour (Sept. 20-21) again this year!
Can you think of a rewarding moment with your students?
I don’t think there is any one single moment but I will tell you that every time we plant a garden or raised bed of fruits or vegetables and we get a harvest, it’s amazing to see how the kids really enjoy that. You get participation and you can tell you are pulling on their heartstrings and you can see the youthful enjoyment come out of them, even for high schoolers. It could be as simple as trying something odd or new like turnips, cilantro, or spinach. They’ll try it and enjoy it, mostly because they feel like they have accomplished something. For me, that’s one of my biggest things when I’m growing something. It’s a very tangible thing and a feeling of accomplishment when you have produced something that is beautiful, good, and sustainable.