The piney woods school (PWS),the oldest black boarding school in the U.S.,has a long history of farming and agriculture dating back to its formation in 1909

The Piney Woods School (PWS) was awarded a $565,145.56 Project Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP) to develop a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm and distribution model. PWS, located in central Mississippi, will use the funding to build capacity for its 200-acre demonstration farm to efficiently distribute fresh produce to customers through a CSA share program and on-site farm stand. Over 80 students in grades 8 through 12 will oversee daily farm operations and gain hands-on experience in entrepreneurship, production, food safety, and other agricultural skills through their involvement in all aspects of the CSA from planting to selling. Proceeds will support student internships, supplies, equipment, and value-added production at the farm to benefit its ongoing operations. The project will also collaborate with local historically underserved farmers to increase inventory diversity available through the CSA.

The grant funds will enable the school to build capacity through a distribution and marketing model to develop a community supported agriculture farm (CSA). The PWS CSA, conveniently located between rural rankin and simpson counties in central mississippi, will offer year-round produce shares and farm stand. A CSA will allow PWS to efficiently disburse fresh produce to a more extensive customer base and reduce waste. Collaborations will be formed with local and historically underserved farmers to increase and diversify inventory. Also, the PWS CSA is unique from other community farms. Our 200-acre demonstration farm is a living science laboratory. We have an intense focus on stem-based learning in a work-study environment. Over eighty (80) 8TH through 12TH-grade students will aid in overseeing the day-to- day operations of the CSA and farm stand. From planting, harvesting, and selling - the PWS students will be involved in the entire process. As beginning farmers, students learn essential skills like strategic planning, budgeting, marketing, and entrepreneurship, as well as farm sustainability, production, food safety, and distribution, all CSA proceeds will directly benefit the farm's operations[FPMAWD1] (i.e.,paid student internships, supplies, equipment, value-added production, and technology) and revenue for the contributing local producers. PWS will offer affordable and competitive prices on shares for seasonal produce and individual food products.