Jones Valley Teaching Farm has established vibrant teaching farms across Birmingham, transforming school spaces into lush environments with raised beds, muscadine arbors, pollinator gardens, ponds, and outdoor kitchens. These farms serve as dynamic educational hubs, promoting experiential learning, sustainability, and community engagement.

Apprentices at Jones Valley Teaching Farm will acquire essential life and work skills, delving into farm management, and receiving specialized training in agriculture. Throughout the apprenticeship, participants immerse themselves in hands-on agricultural work including planting, harvesting, washing and packing, gaining practical skills and knowledge about cultivating the land. Beyond the fields, apprentices explore pathways leading to economic mobility, with a focus on developing social, emotional, and professional skills.

Founded in 2007 on a 3-acre city block in downtown Birmingham, Jones Valley Teaching Farm has evolved into a transformative force in food education. Anchored by the Center for Food Education on its Downtown Campus, the organization extends its impact beyond the traditional classroom, engaging students, teachers, and the community. With daily field trips, week-long camps, community gardening, culinary programming, and employment opportunities for Birmingham City Schools graduates, the Center is a dynamic hub fostering education and connection to fresh produce. Jones Valley operates with the Good School Food model, implemented through standards-based, cross-curricular lessons, thus bringing students closer to food, farming, and culinary arts, aligning seamlessly with the Alabama Course of Study.

Jones Valley Teaching Farm's journey extends to partner schools like Glen Iris Elementary, Henry J. Oliver Elementary, Avondale Elementary, W.E. Putnam Middle School, Hayes K-8 School, and Woodlawn High School. Each site represents a unique oasis where raised beds, pollinator gardens, and teaching pavilions foster agricultural education. From enriching outdoor kitchens to impressive greenhouses, the teaching farms offer immersive experiences, with each site playing a crucial role in the Woodlawn High School pipeline. With over 35,000 seedlings produced annually in a state-of-the-art greenhouse, the organization ensures a year-round growing season, contributing to both culinary lessons and market supplies.