A fifth grade class at Bellamy Elementary School spent today harvesting its crop of micro greens. The program was a collaboration with SUNY Poly student Christina Carambia of Rome with help from Sarita Ruiz, owner of Sarita’s Food Truck.

Carambia reached out to teacher Scott Royce to ask if he would be willing to collaborate on developing a produce program for elementary students. Royce agreed, and after meeting with the Bellamy Steam Team, the two collaborated on a program that would satisfy both of their academic goals, she said.

Carambia is majoring in interdisciplinary studies. She has associate’s degrees in both horticulture production (SUNY Morrisville) and business management (Mohawk Valley Community College).

She is also the owner of a start-up business called Underground Greens; a year-round, non-GMO farm for plants and produce. The business plan for Underground Greens finished in third place in the Clean Energy track at the New York Business Plan Competition in 2015 and 2016, as well as first place both years at the Mohawk Valley Regional competition. The elementary school micro green production plan corresponds with Royce’s fifth grade curriculum, with respect to the plant science portion, she said.

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