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Discover my enriching externship experience at Tanaka Farms, a family-operated business in Irvine, exploring the challenges and strategies of small-scale farming in a competitive market. Learn how to integrate farming practices into the classroom for an interactive learning experience. Reflect on the importance of blending agriculture knowledge with business acumen for future success.
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My Externship Experience:Agriculture and Natural Resources by Beverly Matsuda Science teacher Northwood High School 4515 Portola pkwy Irvine, CA 92620
January 17, 2011 Tanaka Farms
5380 3/4 University Dr. Irvine, CA 92612
Tanaka Farms is a year long family operated business, run by Glenn Tanaka • Summer– Produce stand, Watermelon and Cookout tours • Spring – Produce stand, Strawberry and Cookout tours • Fall – Produce stand, Pumpkin patch • Winter – Produce stand, Christmas trees
Fall Summer Spring
How does a small scale farm… During my externship experience I was able to study
Work with a community? They provide locally grown produce
By offering a variety of services • Producestand • Tours • Education
How can this be incorporated into the classroom? Greenhouse techniques
When to use direct seeding versus …
Indirect seeding
Irrigation techniques
In summary, How can this be incorporated into the classroom? Functional skills can be practiced. Students can • Learn when to direct seed and when to do indirect seeding
In summary, How can this be incorporated into the classroom? • How to work with flats • Greenhouse techniques • Irrigation • Transplanting • Timing • The business end
A Learning Experience Reflection: The small scale farmer is having a harder time competing against larger, mono-crop farming. It has become more vital to blend farming knowledge together with the business aspect … watching the market, being versatile, and adapting to the future.
The end Thanks to the SOCCD Collaborate Grant