This week in farm to school: 6/9/2015
Every week, we share opportunities, action items and a selection of media stories that relate to the farm to school movement. To submit an item for consideration, send us an email. To be considered, content should be of national interest to the farm to school community.
Funding & Grants
1. Grow your farm to school program with a Seed Change mini grant! (KY, LA, PA ONLY)
The National Farm to School Network is accepting applications from eligible schools and school districts in Kentucky, Louisiana and Pennsylvania
for
$5,000 mini grants to help jump start new farm to school activities or ramp up existing
programs. Grants can be used for local food for tastings, new processing equipment, hosting events, building school gardens and more. All nonprofit
schools and school districts in Kentucky, Louisiana and Pennsylvania are eligible to apply. Deadline for applications is Monday, June 15 at
midnight ET. For more information and to apply, visit farmtoschool.org/seedchange.
2. Find your community of supporters with Barnraiser
The National Farm to School Network is partnering with Barnraiser, a crowdfunding platform dedicated to good food and farming projects, to elevate farm to school activities across the country. From school gardens in North Carolina to community cooking education in California, these projects are being funded by people who believe in the power of farm to school activities to support vibrant communities and to empower children and families to make healthy food choices. NFSN will be a featured partner on the site with a page that aggregates farm to school crowdfunding campaigns from across the country. If you would like help initiating a crowdfunding campaign for your farm to school initiative, check out the Barnraiser Campaign Guide and/or contact Marie Sayles, Projects & Partnerships Director, at marie@barnraiser.us. Don't forget to let us know when your project is live!
The National Farm to School Network is partnering with Barnraiser, a crowdfunding platform dedicated to good food and farming projects, to elevate farm to school activities across the country. From school gardens in North Carolina to community cooking education in California, these projects are being funded by people who believe in the power of farm to school activities to support vibrant communities and to empower children and families to make healthy food choices. NFSN will be a featured partner on the site with a page that aggregates farm to school crowdfunding campaigns from across the country. If you would like help initiating a crowdfunding campaign for your farm to school initiative, check out the Barnraiser Campaign Guide and/or contact Marie Sayles, Projects & Partnerships Director, at marie@barnraiser.us. Don't forget to let us know when your project is live!
Webinars & Events
1. Register for the Food Day Apple Crunch on Oct. 22, 2015
On and around Food Day 2015 (Oct. 24, 2015), millions of people
around the country will crunch into an apple in a unifying action to raise awareness about eating better diets for our health
and the environment, access and affordability of fruits and vegetables, and supporting local farmers. Hundreds of thousands
of school students will crunch into an apple at lunch time, joined by Americans at public Food Day events, in corporate cafeterias
and at home. Because Food Day falls on a Saturday this year, most schools will be participating in the Apple Crunch on Thursday,
Oct. 22, 2015. Start planning now to join the Food Day Apple Crunch and register your event at the link below.
2. Slow Food USA & American Heart Assoc. Garden Twitter Chat, June 10, 1pm EST
Policy & Actions
1. Tell Congress you support the Farm to School Act of 2015
Jobs & Opportunities
In honor of National Garden Week, Slow Food USA is
teaming up with the American Heart Association for a garden-themed Twitter Chat. Do you have a home, community or school
garden? Use #lifeiswhy and #SlowFoodUSA to add your voice. This chat will last from 1-2 PM EST and the topic will
be gardening and healthy living. Follow @SlowFoodUSA for more information.
Policy & Actions
1. Tell Congress you support the Farm to School Act of 2015
Tell Congress you support the Farm to School Act of 2015 by signing a letter of support as an individual or on behalf of your organization. The Farm to School Act of 2015 builds
on the success of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 by proposing an increase in funding from $5 million
to $15 million for the USDA Farm to School Grant Program.
The bill would also ensure that the grant program fully includes preschools, summer food service sites, after school
programs, and tribal schools and producers while improving program participation from beginning, veteran and socially
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. To learn more, download this fact sheet or visit farmtoschool.org/cnr2015
Jobs & Opportunities
1. NFSN is hiring a Farm to Preschool Associate
Join our team! National Farm to School Network is
now accepting applications for a full time Farm to Preschool Associate. The Farm to Preschool Associate
will be responsible for managing the implementation of a comprehensive farm to preschool growth plan
for NFSN, with a focus on seamless integration of farm to preschool within all priority areas of NFSN
including information/resource services, networking/partnership building and policy/advocacy. This
position will report directly to the Director of Programs of NFSN. Projected Start Date: June 30, 2015.
For a full position description and application instructions, click here. Please share this listing with anyone you think is interested and qualified.
The deadline to apply is June 18, 2015.
2. REAP Food Group
Farm to school in the news
REAP Food Group is a nonprofit
organization in Madison Wisconsin that nourishes links between land and table to grow a healthful,
just and sustainable local food system. REAP Food Group is currently hiring for several positions:
Farm to School Program Coordinator: This person will provide management and training support to four half-time AmeriCorps Farm to School educators. Additionally, the Farm to School Program Coordinator will work directly with school staff, area chefs and community organizations to carry out chef in the classroom programming, manage farm to school volunteers, plan educational farm to school events and provide general program support. More info here.
Communications Director: This person will develop and implement the overall communications strategy for the organization, including promotion of REAP’s mission and events, public relations, member and donor communications, website management, design of printed materials, and social media outreach. The Communications Director will be involved in event planning and represent REAP at media events and before audiences at other outreach events. More info here.
AmeriCorps Farm to School Educators: REAP Food Group is seeking candidates to fill four half time AmeriCorps positions with the REAP Farm to School program. This is a one-year appointment with a 900 hour commitment (average 20 hours/wk). Members will work with elementary, middle and high school students; as well as teachers, farmers, food service personnel, parents and a wide range of community partners on Farm to School program implementation within the Madison Metropolitan School District. More info here.
Roosevelt serves up home grown food for lunch program
Kindergarten students help maintain a school garden, and serve up spinach, lettuce
and radishes to their classmates for lunch. (via Gazette Extra)
Students receive fresh, local produce through N.C. Farm to School program
Schools receive North Carolina peaches, Asian pears, watermelon, sweet potatoes,
collards, apples, cabbage, carrots and more. “We try to really introduce
different things to everyone.” (via Salisbury Post)
Fifth Graders Learn Lessons on Gardening, Healthy Lifestyles
Fifth graders in Minnesota are teaching each other the best way to plant potatoes."A
garden is a living laboratory. When kids can be out learning how to do
it, doing the research and applying it with their hands, the knowledge
that they have, it really sticks and stays with them for a lifetime." (via
Fox 21)
Read past editions of This Week for more funding opportunities, webinars and events, jobs, and ways to take action to support farm to school growth across the country.