05/28/2026
This month, we celebrate Gardener James Lang! 🌱Students have been learning, from James, all about how to plant and grow buckwheat in their school gardens. Starting with getting their hands in the dirt to prep the soil, then planting the seeds, finally giving it a good dense water, and in 1-2 weeks they could begin to see a small green sprout. Buckwheat can grow rapidly and after about 90 days, it will be ready to harvest!
James is the Farm to School Coordinator at Concordia Charter School, and is also one of this year’s site reps! He graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in Environmental Studies, with a focus in Urban Agriculture.
At Concordia, he runs the school garden, teaches garden lessons, organizes workshops and much more. James prides himself on growing edible crops that can be used by students to cook, learn and embrace the rich culture of the Desert Southwest. By embracing the seasonality of central Arizona, James has been able to transform Concordia’s garden program into a flourishing edible garden with an adjacent pollinator garden that is home to the school’s beehive. 🐝
Concordia’s Farm to School program has been recognized for its success in teaching students to grow their own food, cook with the food they grew, and then start the cycle all over again by seed saving and composting. 🍅🥕🥬
Thank you James for sharing your knowledge with our Chef in the Garden learners! 😁
