MCHD Dragonfly Farm

MCHD Regeneration Partnerships

Through support of community partnerships and the MCHD Collaborative Community (MCC), Dragonfly Farm exists as a living classroom where elementary students actively participate in caring for bees, hens and goats, collecting fresh eggs, learning about beekeeping and pollinator protection, engaging in vermiculture and composting practices, understanding the importance of soil health, tending to gardens / life cycles, and participating in recycling efforts. Additionally, the farm engages our community through weekly Farmstands with local produce, honey, muffins and more.

The MCC shares the vision of a school community focused on regenerative and sustainable practices. MCHD is proud to partner with the following community-based organizations providing valuable educational experiences for students, staff and families, teaching the importance of sustainable and regenerative practices.

Alvéole

Alvéole works with MCHD to take concrete action and educate students on the importance of the protection of all pollinators. When the hive is opened in April of each year, Alvéole visits MCHD every three weeks to assess the condition of the hive and provide hands-on educational workshops. Learn more about our hive.

Pine Melon

MCHD is Pine Melon’s first school partnership and provides the school with local, organic snacks. In turn, MCHD will adopt a local farm. Pine Melon is known for their innovative approach to online grocery shopping, connecting families with local farmers, ranchers, and producers to deliver high-quality products. Learn more about Pine Melon.

Denver Urban Gardens (DUG)

DUG provides access, skills, and resources for people to grow healthy food in community and regenerate urban green spaces. They have supported MCHD’s composting initiatives and our gardens by providing invitations to their seed swaps, and via produce donations to our weekly, three campus Farmstands. Learn more about DUG.

Farm Fresh Eggs, Inc

Farm Fresh Eggs has supplied free-range, hormone-free, organic eggs to our weekly, three campus Farmstands. They also donated hens to MCHD’s Dragonfly Farm at the Central Park campus, where students are actively engaged in the daily care of the hens. Learn more about Farm Fresh Eggs Inc.

The Happy Beetle

MCHD has a partnership with The Happy Beetle who provides pickups of hard-to-recycle items. From plastic bags to baby food pouches, electronics or house paint, old clothing and books, and much more - these items are diverted from the landfill for reuse, recycling, or responsible disposal. Children at each campus collect items for pickups, learning the importance of recycling, as well as producing less waste. Learn more about The Happy Beetle.

ABC Composting

ABC Composting is changing the world, one garden at a time. They work with DUG and MCHD to teach best practices in vermiculture (worm composting). MCHD classrooms and campuses have worm farms where children learn the importance of soil health. The worm compost created at the campuses is transferred to the campus gardens. Learn more about ABC Composting.

The Remaining Fantastic Five

Backpack Sciences, Denver Love Goats, Earth Force, Front Range Organic Gardeners, and Petals for Pollinators have all been instrumental in the expansion and enhancement of MCHD’s sustainability program in the following ways:

  • the enrichment of MCHD’s elementary science curriculum with access to award-winning educational resources (Backpack Sciences)

  • the construction of our goat enclosure & our local go-to goat expert (Denver Love Goats)

  • the revitalization of our Dragonfly Farm greenhouse through their Community Action & Problem Solving curriculum (Earth Force)

  • the awarding of grant money for the continuation of MCHD’s organic gardens and greenhouse (Front Range Organic Gardners)

  • the donation of seeds & seed lunchboxes (Petals for Pollinators)