This Week in Farm to School: 8/28/18
1. Seeds for Education Grant Program
Teachers and students across the US are expanding learning opportunities by enhancing their schoolyards with butterfly gardens, nature trails, prairies, woodland wildflower preserves, and similar projects. These projects enrich the learning environment and provide aesthetic and environmental benefits. Wild Ones offers assistance for all aspects of such projects. Cash grants under $500 are available for plants and seeds, and in-kind donations from Nursery Partners can help stretch these dollars. Applications are due October 15. Learn more and apply here.
2. Target Field Trip Grants
Some of the best learning opportunities happen outside the classroom. That's why Target is helping give students a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience through field trips (like visits to a local farm!). As part of the program, Target stores award Target Field Trip™ grants to K-12 schools nationwide. Each grant is valued at up to $700. Deadline to apply is Oct. 1. Learn more here.
Webinars & Events
1. NFSN WEBINAR State Farm to School Month Proclamations
September 20, 2-3pm ET
In addition to the federal Congressional resolution NFSN championed in 2010 to establish October as National Farm to School Month, many states have passed resolutions declaring a Farm to School Week or Month. Similar language can usually be used in your state legislature or for a proclamation by your governor. Join us to learn from NFSN Core and Supporting Partners how they: 1) advocated and obtained these proclamations, 2) used these farm to school weeks/months to celebrate farm to school, and 3) used these celebrations as a springboard for more farm to school policies. Guest speakers will include NFSN Arkansas Core Partner, Emily English, of Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, and NFSN Hawaii Core Partner, Natalie McKinney, of Kokua Hawaii Foundation. This webinar will be recorded and available for future viewing. Register here.
2. NFSN WEBINAR Results from the 2018 National Farm to Early Care and Education Survey
October 11, 2-3pm ET
The National Farm to School Network (NFSN), in partnership with Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, launched for the 2018 National Survey of Early Care and Education Providers in the spring of 2018. Over 2,000 ECE providers from across the country responded and shared information about current farm to ECE initiatives, motivations for participation, challenges to starting or expanding farm to ECE, and more. Join the National Farm to School Network and Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems to hear about the survey finding and learn how you can use the results to promote farm to ECE in your state and community. This webinar will be recorded and archived for future viewing. Register here.
3. Farm to School and 21st Century Food Service Programs
November 15, 7-8pm ET
In 2018, National Farm to School Network (NFSN) teamed up with National Education Association (NEA) as its National Partner of the Year to explore and promote opportunities for
4. #CommunityFood: Innovations in Leadership - Part 2: Shifting Organizational Structures for Equity and Empowerment
The second webinar in this
5. Greening School Food Forum
October 1,
Kick off National Farm to School month with an exciting, interactive forum on healthy, climate-friendly food service: a cost-effective approach focused on plant-forward menus, reduced food waste, and innovative educational and promotional activities. Learn more and register here.
Resources
1. Start Planning for National Farm to School Month!
National Farm to School month is right around the corner! The National Farm to School Network has free resources, planning materials, activity ideas and a national calendar of events with ways you can get involved in October. Visit farmtoschool.org/month to start planning.
Job Opportunities
1. Development Director, National Farm to School Network (Remote)
National Farm to School Network seeks a Development Director to lead the organization in strategic growth and diversification of its funding base. Deadline to apply is September 7, 2018. Learn more and apply here.
2. Executive Director, Urban School Food Alliance (New York, NY)
The Urban School Food Alliance is looking for a passionate, business-minded executive leader to accelerate impact and drive organizational development, improving the health and sustainability of school meals in many of the nation’s largest school districts. As the first Executive Director
3. Nutrition Education and Summer Camp Coordinator, Growing Gardens (Boulder, CO)
Growing Gardens’ Nutrition Education and Summer Camp Coordinator
4. Farm to School Coordinator, Cornell Cooperative Extension (Bath, NY)
The Farm to School Coordinator will be responsible for assisting with program delivery, and evaluation along with administrative direction, management, and coordination for supporting the increase of volume and variety of local farm products procured by schools/districts for inclusion in school meals programs in a tri-county region (Steuben, Chemung, and Schuley). Learn more and apply here.
Farm to School in the News
How school food purchases are moving the needle for the local food movement
The School Nutrition Association recently released the results of its most recent national survey of school meal program directors, which found that nearly 60% of respondents serve locally grown fruits and vegetables in their cafeterias. Helen Dombalis, National Farm to School Network Senior Director, Programs & Policy, shares how policy change and program innovation help keep the momentum for
Colorado students learn about local food in class at market
Colorado students enrolled in a culinary arts course recently visited a local farmers’ market, where they learned about the sources of the food they eat. Instructor Christina Horn said she wants students to recognize what is good quality
A bountiful garden tucked behind North Falmouth Elementary School bears the literal fruits of hard-working students, teachers, parents, and community members. Community members who have helped the students gardeners with questions about the fruits and vegetables say creating these gardens and bringing gardening into the community is important work, for both heritage and the ecosystem. (Cape Cod Times)