Use the search critera to narrow your search results or scroll through our entire library, located below. Checking boxes in multiple search categories will narrow your results; checking multiple boxes in the same category will expand your results. The date listed on a resource indicates when it was published if that date is known; otherwise the date indicates when the resource was added.

Resources

Farm to School and ECE Local Food Incentive Programs: The National Landscape Webinar

National Farm to School Network
 | 
October 13, 2022

Check out this webinar for a review of different designs of statewide incentive programs explored in a recent report released on the subject, and learn about support available for policy advocacy and education. Results from a national survey were also shared, highlighting the educational needs and values of stakeholders interested in learning more about procurement incentives.

Download Resources

Food for a Better Future: Reach out to your candidate!

National Farm to School Network
 | 
August 4, 2022

This handy toolkit will provide you with step-by-step instructions, talking points, and further resources for you to reach out to your local candidates. Take 5 minutes TODAY to reach out to your local candidates and let them know that you care about school meals. 

Download Resources

2021 National Farm to Early Care and Education Survey

National Farm to School Network, Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems
 | 
August 3, 2022

In 2021, the National Farm to School Network and Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems surveyed early care and education (ECE) providers across the country to better understand current initiatives, motivations and challenges in applying farm to ECE activities in early care and education settings.

Download Resources

Farm to Early Care and Education Shared Metrics: Outcomes, Indicators, and Measures for Farm to ECE Evaluation

National Farm to School Network, Policy Equity Group
 | 
June 1, 2022

The Farm to Early Care and Education Shared Metrics resource is intended for farm to ECE practitioners and evaluators to guide planning, implementation, research, evaluation, and reporting efforts. The resource consists of a resource guide, a library of metrics specific to farm to ECE, and an orientation video.

Download Resources

Shifting Towards the Next Generation: 2021 Movement Meeting

National Farm to School Network
 | 
October 14, 2021

National Farm to School Network's 2021 virtual Movement Meeting featured conversation and action-oriented reflection on how the next generation is working to intersect the food movement with racial justice, environmental justice, economic justice, and other key justice-centered movements.

Download Resources

Farm to Early Education Self-Assessment

National Farm to School Network and the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists
 | 
October 8, 2021

This Farm to ECE Self-Assessment from the National Farm to School Network (NFSN) and the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists (ASPHN) is designed to help ECE providers and those who work with ECE providers assess their current farm to ECE practices and develop goals and action plans to grow farm to ECE at their site.

Download Resources

Thriving Schools Integrated Assessment

Healthier Generation, Kaiser Permanente
 | 
September 29, 2021

Healthier Generation and Kaiser Permanente's evidence-based tool to help schools and districts build learning environments that promote student achievement and support the well-being of kids, staff, and teachers.

Download Resources

Discovering Through Hydroponics: A Classroom Guide

National Farm to School Network, Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, KidsGardening
 | 
September 10, 2021

‍Discovering Through Hydroponics includes basic how-to information for growing plants hydroponically in your classroom; lesson plans to help students learn the basics of plant needs, plant parts and their functions, and plant life cycles from seed to seed through hands-on investigations; construction plans for simple hydroponic setups; and additional reference materials to support your endeavors.

Download Resources

Leveraging Local Food Incentive Policy to Benefit Children and Producers: Lessons from the D.C. Healthy Tots Act

National Farm to School Network and Research Triangle Institute International
 | 
August 18, 2021

This report and fact sheet examine how the Washington, D.C. Healthy Tots Act (HTA) and the Local5 component influence ECE site local food purchasing practices and impact local food intermediaries and local producers, with a focus on HTA impacts on low-income children and children of color as well as BIPOC producers.

Download Resources

State Farm to School Policy Handbook

National Farm to School Network and Center for Agriculture and Food Systems
 | 
July 23, 2021

The State Farm to School Policy Handbook: 2002-2020 summarizes and analyzes farm to school bills and resolutions introduced between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2020, from the 50 states, DC, and the U.S. territories. It also includes analysis of state legislative trends, summaries of proposed bills, case studies, and additional resources for advocates.

Download Resources

Lessons from the COVID-19 Experience: Innovations and Strategies for Farm to Early Care and Education Implementation in States and Communities

National Farm to School Network, Policy Equity Group
 | 
July 15, 2021

The Policy Equity Group and the National Farm to School Network, with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, are pleased to jointly release this brief that captures how farm to early care and education (ECE) efforts at the state and community levels were initially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Download Resources

USDA Local Food Directories

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
 | 
January 13, 2021

Search your area by zip code and distance for farmers markets, on-farm markets, CSA's and food hubs. Information on locations, products available, payments accepted, winter markets, etc. available.

Download Resources

What's In Season? NC Produce Availability Chart

NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
 | 
January 13, 2021

Collards year-round; green peas mostly in May?! Use this guide to plan menus and purchase produce that is in season in NC. Buying produce in season is fresher, tastier and often times less expensive. This is especially helpful for knowing when seasonal, cycle menus may need to change.

Download Resources

NC Seasonal CACFP Cycle Menus

NC CACFP -- Nutrition Services Branch, Division of Public Health, NC Department of Health and Human Services
 | 
January 13, 2021

Seasonal menus (meeting CACFP and NC DCDEE requirements) featuring NC produce. The menus include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks with links to standardized recipes. A blank template is also available to customize the menus to your facility.

Download Resources

Growing Edibles in Containers

Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) -- NC State University
 | 
January 13, 2021

Never grown an edible garden but would like to start by growing some edibles in containers? This resource provides suggestions for how to get started.

Download Resources

Local Foods: Child Care Center Fruit & Vegetable Gardening Series

Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) in collaboration with the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) and NC Cooperative Extension
 | 
January 13, 2021

This series has 8 publications all related to building the best garden for your childcare center. The publications include details on creating a childcare garden, growing and preparing fruits and vegetables in both warm and cool seasons, snacking and cooking techniques and composting techniques

Download Resources

Starting Seeds in the Spring

Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) -- NC State University
 | 
January 13, 2021

When should I start seeds indoors so they are ready to transplant outdoors in the spring? This resource gives specific answers to this question for several types of plants.

Download Resources

Children's Literature by Growing Minds

Growing Minds Program -- Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP)
 | 
January 13, 2021

Welcome to our Farm to School bookshelf! Search the ever-growing database to find our recommendations, which are perfect for teaching about gardening, cooking, farms, or food. Use our list to find literature for the classroom, home, or even to start your own Farm to School book collection.

Download Resources

Preschool lesson plans by Growing Minds

Growing Minds Program -- Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP)
 | 
January 13, 2021

Exploring local food and farms with your young learners doesn't have to be challenging! These preschool lesson plans are an easy way to build connections between the outdoor environment and the classroom while introducing children to new fruits and vegetables.

Download Resources

MyPlate, MyState

Choose my Plate, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
 | 
January 13, 2021

Shows MyPlate food group items available in North Carolina (or any state).

Download Resources

Reach for the Stars with Farm to Preschool

North Carolina Farm to Preschool Network
 | 
November 12, 2020

This resource helps child care centers and family child care homes integrate farm to ECE activities into their curriculum while addressing the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS).

Download Resources

Pint Size Produce - Easy to Use Activities for Early Childhood

Renewing the Countryside
 | 
November 8, 2020

Pint Size Produce features produce and products grown in the midwest. Each activity suite includes an activity plan, a parent handout, and a half page flier highlighting key information. They are available in PDF as well as PowerPoint formats so providers and others can modify to meet their needs.

Download Resources

Vision and Key Strategies to Advance Farm to Early Care and Education

National Farm to School Network���s Farm to Early Care and Education Working Group
 | 
September 11, 2020

The purpose of this document is to share the vision for long-term impacts of farm to ECE, offer a comprehensive list of key strategies to advance towards that vision, and to elevate examples and resources that demonstrate these key strategies in action.

Download Resources

Nurture Young Children's Health and Curiosity During COVID-19

The University of Tennessee���s Maternal & Child Health Nutrition Leadership Trainee program, Association of State Public Health Nutritionists, National Farm to School Network
 | 
August 28, 2020

This resource and accompanying website offer reasons why farm to ECE can be helpful during the challenges and uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic and provides tips for putting farm to ECE into action.

Download Resources

The Significance of Farm to Early Care and Education in the Context of COVID-19

National Farm to School Network and Association of State Public Health Nutritionists
 | 
June 16, 2020

This resource lists reasons why farm to ECE is even more relevant during a pandemic and a post-pandemic world in supporting providers in meeting the needs of children and families. This information can provide talking points and help you connect to interested providers, families, communities, and stakeholders to help build or rebuild farm to ECE initiatives and activities.

Download Resources

Local Food in COVID-19 Response and Recovery

National Farm to School Network
 | 
June 16, 2020

This fact sheet outlines some of the promising practices that school nutrition providers, early care and education centers, community partners, and state agencies have seen during COVID-19 while supporting local farmers and producers in accessing markets, and helping families in accessing healthy food.

Download Resources

Benefits of Farm to School

National Farm to School Network
 | 
May 19, 2020

Farm to school programs provide a variety of benefits to students, parents, schools, communities and farmers. This fact sheet offers a research-based overview of the benefits of farm to school and a list of sources.

Download Resources

Farm to Early Care and Education: Toward a Shared Language

Michigan Farm to ECE Network
 | 
May 12, 2020

Farm to early care and education (ECE) happens where early care and education and food systems meet. Although we are often working towards the same goals, it can be difficult for food systems and early care and education to communicate because there is not a shared language. This resource from Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems aims to begin a conversation between early care and education providers and food systems practitioners to work towards developing a shared language and fuller understanding of the common purpose we are working towards.

Download Resources

Exploring Hydroponics: A Classroom Lesson Guide

National Farm to School Network, Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, KidsGardening
 | 
May 1, 2020

Exploring Hydroponics includes basic how-to information for growing plants hydroponically in your classroom; lesson plans to help students learn through hands-on investigations; construction plans for simple hydroponic setups; and additional reference materials to support your endeavors.

Download Resources

Local Policy Ask Template in Response to COVID-19

National Farm to School Network
 | 
April 29, 2020

National Farm to School Network is compiling local policy asks to create a COVID-19 Local Response Template for advocates. You can pull ideas from this template, and make changes as needed, to address the needs of your community.

Download Resources