Learn how to make a delicious Filipino Pancit and volunteer for our garden support program
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Watermelon Wednesday
November 2025 Issue #14
Professional Development at 19North!
In early October, several of our site reps from this year's Chef in the Garden program joined us at 19North to learn about seed saving techniques from Melissa Peeples of The Desert Smells like Veggies! One of our program goals throughout the year is to offer opportunities for reps to be together to inspire conversation, collaboration, and an opportunity to bring resources and knowledge back to their sites. A huge thank you to Melissa for her time and expertise, we had so much fun learning the history of seeds and how to create unique origami seed packets!
October Lesson
Students participating in our October Chef in the Garden lesson enjoyed a delicious Filipino pancit recipe by Chef Victoria Tan! This quick, tasty recipe taught students about stir frying and the delicious flavors of snap peas. Click the button below to watch the video of Chef Victoria walking us through her recipe, and see below for more information about October's featured chef and farm!
Chef Victoria studied at Arizona Culinary Institute in North Scottsdale before completing a four month internship working side by side with gastronomy professionals in Girona, Spain.
After her internship, Chef Victoria worked for 11 years in healthcare as a chef helping patients in a rehabilitation center. Her passion for cooking stems from her Filipino roots of providing for and taking care of others.
She can currently be found at FnB Restaurant and spends her time volunteering for Blue Watermelon Project and exploring local restaurants with friends and family.
Bio provided by Chef Victoria Tan
Whipstone Farm is a family farm located in Paulden, Arizona, about 30 miles north of Prescott. They began selling produce door-to-door in 1995 when their large garden produced more food than their family could eat.
They have grown every year since then and now have 15 acres in production, where they grow over 100 varieties of vegetables and flowers year round.
You can find Whipstone Farm's produce and flowers and farmers markets throughout Arizona and at natural food stores, restaurants and florists.
Check out what our students had to say about Chef Victoria's recipe!
"Infinity out of 10" "I am glued to this bowl" "This is the best thing I've ever eaten"
- 2nd graders, Edison School of Innovation
"It was really fun doing all of the cooking, cutting, and all of those things - it was my favorite lesson!"
- 7th grade, Desert Shadows Middle
"It was very tasty and fresh, 5 stars!"
- 3rd grade, Sky Crossing Elementary
"This is so delicious and I learned a new dish that I would have never learned how to cook."
- 7th grade, Biltmore Preparatory
Volunteers Needed for Gardening Projects
Interested in supporting the school gardens at our partner sites? Join us for an upcoming virtual discussion on Wednesday, November 12th at 5:00pm to talk through a new garden support program. Register directly in Volgistics, and reach out to Erin for additional information and questions!
Start Your Volunteer Journey!
Ready to join us? New volunteers can click the button below to sign up for a Volgistics account to see all of the upcoming shifts on our calendar.
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