CABOT, Vt. -
Phys ed class in Cabot is taking place on a different field than normal. Usually it's capture the flag or kickball, for the middle schoolers Thursday, it's picking corn.
"Perfect day to be outside. They're hiking through the countryside and they're doing something productive," said Deb Bothfeld, the phys ed teacher.
Bothfeld says it's about giving the students more than just games.
"It doesn't have to be play, it can be work," Bothfeld said. "That's what our whole focus is in phys ed-- is to be lifelong."
The students say it ties into what they're learning in class about sustainable communities.
And according to student Chris Chadderton, 14, "It also helps to build character."
But most importantly, the kids say, is where this corn is going.
"If we pick the food it gives us the feeling that we're helping more people than just our families or our small community because it's going out all over Vermont," Chadderton said.
The food they pick from this field will go to the Vermont Foodbank and eventually to tables across the state.
"I feel sort of proud that I'm helping people who don't have enough money to afford food," said Abigail Walker, 12.
"Well, it's just something you do because it's right," said Clara Mueller, 11.
And it's not just corn.
"We've picked cucumbers, zucchini, summer squash," Chadderton said.
Cabot School students from third grade to high school have all been in the fields of this Smith Road farm during their gym classes the last couple of weeks, and they've already harvested more than a ton of food.
The Vermont Foodbank says need is up 15 percent since Tropical Storm Irene, but volunteer efforts like this are helping to meet that need.
"Last year the gleaning program managed to glean 400,000 pounds of food from Vermont farms," said Katie Rumly of the Vermont Foodbank.
Rumly says the bank is trying to take advantage of untapped resources in the state.
"We have a great amount of a wonderful supply of food here in the state, and for some reason or another a lot of it isn't marketable," Rumly said.
This field was simply planted too late, but according to the kids it didn't affect the corn.
And at the end of a day in the fields the kids get to enjoy the fruits-- or rather vegetables-- of their labor.
"They're allowed to bring some corn back to their families," Bothfeld said, "which I think helps to bring the message home."
This is the fourth year Smith Road Farm has opened its fields to the program. The owner says all told, kids have picked more than 16 tons of food for the Vermont Foodbank.
