Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG)

SEEAG is a service-based educational nonprofit that significantly impacts the communities of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. If you want to be part of a great team please consider applying to be our Farm Day Marketing & Event Coordinator.

Meet the Farmer of the Season, Jim Stollberg from Maverick Farming. SEEAG's Founder, Mary Maranville, journeyed through the Pinot Noir vines earlier this year to capture Jim's Story. Watch the full video at https://lnkd.in/gpDuikxi #MeetTheHandsThatFeedYou

Thank you for everyone who has donated $10,400 so far, matched by @gillsonions, this means we have raised $20,800 for our Farm-to-Food Lab program - and the month isn't over yet! There are two more days to double your impact! All donations made during the month of May directly benefit SEEAG's Farm-to-Food Lab program in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, which educates students on the farm origins of their foods through hands-on experiential learning 🐝🌱 Help us keep this program 100% free to all students, teachers and schools! Click the link in our bio to donate today, every dollar makes a difference! 🔗🙌

We are halfway through the month of May, and are happy to share that we have raised $10,496 for our Farm-to-Food Lab program so far thanks to some very generous community members and our matching donor, Gill's Onions! With the Double Your Impact Challenge, every dollar makes a difference. Please consider supporting SEEAG's three-part agricultural and food literacy program this month and join our family of supporters. Every donation goes directly towards bolstering our on-farm and in-classroom education for students in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, and ensures that our programs remain cost-free for all to attend. Thank you to Jonathan & Tina Grunzweig, Plantel Nurseries, Al Lowe Construction, Charles Wilmoth, and Richard Baldwin for your generosity!

What are your favorite spring fruits and vegetables? 🌼 Whether it be asparagus, strawberries, beets, broccoli, celery, carrots, cauliflower, chard, green beans, blueberries, radishes, lettuce, or tomatoes - Ventura and Santa Barbara County farms offer plenty of variety throughout the season to suit your taste buds! Some of our favorite locally in-season fruits and vegetables include romanesco cauliflower, strawberries, beets, artichokes, avocados, blueberries and romaine lettuce. The best part about eating seasonally and locally? Not only will you get peak flavors, but peak nutrition. Each of these seasonal fruits and vegetables are packed with a varying amount of essential vitamins and minerals - highlighting the importance of diversifying your diet through the abundance of food grown all around us. Here are the functions of the vitamins and minerals which commonly appear in our seasonal produce picks: - Vitamin C: supports the immune system and skin collagen - Vitamin K: improves blood clotting and bone health - Folate (Vitamin B9): important for cell function - Potassium: helps lower blood pressure, maintain fluid balance, and transmit nerve signals - Calcium: improves bone health - Magnesium: energy production - Fiber: healthy digestion - Water: hydration

The May Double Your Impact Challenge is HERE! Gills Onions has committed to match every dollar donated in the month of May up to $15,000 for a total potential impact of $30,000 in the fifth annual Double Your Impact Challenge!🙌 All donations made during the month of May directly benefit SEEAG’s Farm-to-Food Lab program in Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties, with the mission to build awareness of and appreciation for agriculture from farm to consumption through hands on experiential learning.🌾🍎 Our Farm-to-Food Lab program is offered 100% free of charge to all students, teachers, and schools. This fundraiser helps keep our program free, while bolstering the materials and educational experiences we provide.🌱 Visit https://lnkd.in/gEM3N-jn to donate!

Thank you to everyone who joined us at our 2nd Annual Plantopia fundraiser this past weekend! It was wonderful to catch up with familiar faces and meet new friends. A special shoutout to Plantel Nurseries Inc. for their generous contribution of seedlings, and Agromin for supplying bags of organic potting soil.

🌍🌱 Happy Earth Day! 🌱🌍 Today, as we celebrate our planet, we are also taking time to reflect on the importance of education and appreciation. At SEEAG, our mission is to educate, inspire, and empower the next generation to care for the Earth and all its inhabitants through the lens of agriculture. Whether it is teaching our students about the importance of our water cycle, what healthy soil looks and feels like, mindful eating, introducing our community to the journey of their food, or spreading awareness and appreciation for our agricultural workforce, every action we take is with the goal of moving towards a healthier future for all. On that note, we sincerely hope that you will join us in celebrating Earth Day by supporting our Plantopia fundraiser plant sale this weekend! Not only can you plant your spring garden with nutrient dense fruits and vegetables, but you'll also be contributing to our efforts to plant 10,000 seedlings in our community, all while raising funds for agricultural and nutritional education. Through our programs and initiatives, we aim to foster a deeper connection to nature, encouraging stewardship and responsibility for the environment. Happy planting, and happy Earth Day 🌍

Our first STEM in Ag Career Fair of the year is in the books 📚 Thank you Rio students! Over 560!!! 6th grade students from RIO SCHOOL DISTRICT visited McGrath Family Farmers this week to learn about STEM agricultural career opportunities. Thank you to our STEM in Ag Career Fair participants: Port of Hueneme California State University Channel Islands Rincon-Vitova Insectaries, Inc. Rodale Institute Ventura College Ventura County Farm to School Rio Nutrition Services Students toured the farm, received career guidance, harvested edible flowers and strawberries, observed demos, and learned about food science and safety from the experts at McGrath Family Farms. 🍓🌻 A big THANK YOU to our title sponsors Port of Hueneme California State University Channel Islands Gene Haas Foundation and Rincon-Vitova Insectaries, Inc. Without them this incredible student experience would not have been possible.👏

We're excited to share some great news: Mary Maranville and SEEAG have been recognized as Champions of Education by the Pacific Coast Business Times (PCBT)! We are dedicated to making a positive impact on students' lives by building agricultural and wellness literacy, and are grateful to share our work with the community. Thank you @pacbiztimes for recognizing the work of Team SEEAG and our Founder & CEO, Mary Maranville. Since the beginning, SEEAG has aimed to do things differently in education. We have two main goals: teaching students about the importance of agriculture and the nutritional value of our food, and making sure families who work in agriculture feel proud of what they do, and appreciated by their community. In the Champions of Education publication, SEEAG’s spotlight is titled "Planting a seed of interest in a growing generation.” Mary shares a touching story about a student who attended our Farm Lab program. When their teacher asked what they learned, the student said something simple but important: "My dad helps feed the world." Stories like this remind us of the amazing impact of education. They show us how it can change how we see the world, and allow us to appreciate things we might not have valued before. SEEAG is committed to continuing this work, helping students become knowledgeable and confident individuals who understand and respect the importance of farming and the people who put food on our tables. We want to say a big thank you to Pacific Coast Business Times for recognizing our efforts. Together, we'll continue spreading knowledge and appreciation for farming and the people behind it, making our future brighter and healthier for everyone.