Use the quick guide to search through our resource database. You can search by topic, setting, or keywords in order to find exactly what you are looking for. Choose a filtering mechanism above to get started.
Farm to school is taking place in all 50 states, D.C. and U.S. Territories! Select a location from the list below to learn more or contact a Core Partner.
Search our resource database
Use the search criteria on the left 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. Words or phases entered in the keyword search field must be an exact match. 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 to this website.
by National Farm to School Network and Center for Agriculture and Food Systems | 13-Jun-2019
The State Farm to School Policy Handbook: 2002-2018 summarizes and analyzes farm to school bills and resolutions introduced between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2018, from the 50 states, DC, and the U.S. territories. It also include analysis of state legislative trends, summaries of proposed bills, case studies, and additional resources for advocates.
by National Farm to School Network | 19-May-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.
by National Farm to School Network | 1-Apr-2019
The toolkit includes a primer on general network models and development, a deep dive into state farm to school network best practices, case studies highlighting successful tools and tactics, and an analysis on challenges for and the future of state farm to school networks.
by National Farm to School Network | 31-Jan-2019
This resource includes a list of existing state farm to school positions - both in state agencies and in university Extension offices - four state case studies, an analysis of the current landscape of state farm to school positions, and sample job descriptions for some of the positions featured in the resource.
by Choose my Plate, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) | 13-Jan-2021
Shows MyPlate food group items available in North Carolina (or any state).
by Growing Minds Program -- Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP) | 13-Jan-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.
by Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) in collaboration with the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) and NC Cooperative Extension | 13-Jan-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
by Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) -- NC State University | 13-Jan-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.
by Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) -- NC State University | 13-Jan-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.
by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) | 13-Jan-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.
by Growing Minds Program -- Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP) | 13-Jan-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.
by NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services | 13-Jan-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.
by NC CACFP -- Nutrition Services Branch, Division of Public Health, NC Department of Health and Human Services | 13-Jan-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.
by Alliance for a Healthier Generation | 22-Nov-2020
A self-paced on-demand module that will equip out-of-school time staff and stakeholders with the knowledge and resources to integrate farm to school strategies into their out-of-school time programming.
by Renewing the Countryside | 8-Nov-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.
by National Farm to School Network | 14-Oct-2020
National Farm to School Network hosted a virtual Movement Meeting on Wednesday, Oct.14, 2020, featuring Karen Washington, food justice activist, for deep conversation and action-oriented reflection on racial justice in the farm to school movement and wider food system.
by National Farm to School Network’s Farm to Early Care and Education Working Group | 11-Sep-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.
by The University of Tennessee’s Maternal & Child Health Nutrition Leadership Trainee program, Association of State Public Health Nutritionists, National Farm to School Network | 28-Aug-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.
by Georgia Organics and Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning; | 29-Jun-2020
The purpose of this guide is to cover the most important components of farm to early care and education and give you a few tips to get started.
by National Farm to School Network and Association of State Public Health Nutritionists | 16-Jun-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.
by National Farm to School Network | 16-Jun-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.
by NFSN Farm to ECE Working Group- Procurement Subgroup | 26-May-2020
View this farm to ECE resource created by NFSN's Farm to ECE Working Group on farm to early care and education local food purchasing.
by Michigan Farm to ECE Network | 12-May-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.
by Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems | 16-Apr-2020
Families and children are confronting stress and uncertainty in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents, caretakers, and early care and education providers may be looking for ways to encourage play-based learning that can teach children critical skills pertaining to this crisis - especially those related to social-emotional health. This resource from Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems outlines farm to ECE activities that can be helpful for continuing to cultivate young children's emotional wellness during this time.