final farm to school presentation

The Pepperfield Project

Food and Fitness Initiative

Farm to School

Benefits of Farm to School

Cultivating healthy schools

Cultivating healthy communities

Farm to School

Strengthen children’s and communities’ knowledge about, and attitudes toward, agriculture, food, nutrition and the environment.

Increase children’s participation in the school meals program and consumption of fruits and vegetables, thereby improving childhood nutrition, reducing hunger, and preventing obesity and obesity-related diseases.

Benefit school food budgets, after start-up, if planning and menu choices are made consistent with seasonal availability of fresh and minimally processed whole foods.

Source: Farm to School Website

http://www.farmtoschool.org/whatis.php

Farm to School

Support economic development across numerous sectors and promote job creation.

Increase market opportunities for farmers, fishers, ranchers, food processors and food manufacturers.

Decrease the distance between producers and consumers, thus promoting food security while reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and reliance on oil.

Source: Farm to School Website

http://www.farmtoschool.org/whatis.php

"These are agriculture Skittles. Taste the rainbow!" Mount

Horeb seventh-grader Gus Quade about the local peppers. “I hate vegetables. But I love these.”.

Kids actually like vegetables!!

Example: Mount Horeb School District, Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin

Example: Woodstock Union High/Middle School

Local foods increase school lunch participation

School lunch participation rose from

50% to 65% when

Woodstock Union schools

started serving local foods!

Viroqua Area School Districts, Wisconsin

Bought 670 of local tomatoes, summer squash, peppers, and eggplant

5th Season- Summer Ratatouille Project

Froze ratatouille for use at a Parents Back to School night

Finished project in ONE day!

Food Service Training(s)

Teacher Training

Cross-Age TeachingField Days/Producer Visits

Northeast Iowa Farm to School

Education

Training opportunities for elementary school teachers

Cross-Age Teaching in 2nd Grade Classrooms

Field Days/Producer Visits

Liz Dovenberg, Decorah High School senior. Regional Youth Team

The education piece…

Month Activity January 2010 Cross-age teaching begins with focus on local food item

February 2010

Teacher training day with Luther College focusing on second grade teachersCross-age teaching continues

March 2010 Teacher training days by Luther College continue expanding to more grade levelsFollow-up visits with AmeriCorps membersIntegration of teaching resource curriculaCross-age teaching continues

April 2010 Integration of teaching resource curriculaFollow-up visits by AmeriCorps membersCross-age teaching continues

May 2010 Integration of teaching resource curriculaCross-age teaching continues

Food Service Education

ServSafe and SafeFood courses in winter

Assistance with connecting to local foods producers

Hands on food prep training with guest chefs

Photo: North Winneshiek Homegrown School Lunch Week

School Gardens

Month Garden Expert Visits January 2010 Initial contact meeting

February 2010 Planning meeting

March 2010 Planning/start seeds indoors

April 2010 Planting indoors

May 2010 Start transplanting late May

June 2010 Transplanting

Summer 2010 Tend garden

September 2010 Harvest

October 2010 Harvest/Attend garden tract for FFI Conference

Farm to School is offering a garden expert to help you start or expand your school garden.

Luther College garden

The school garden possibility…

Many design options…

A local example: Winneshiek Medical Center Garden…

Farm to School: School ExpectationsWhat you’ve already accomplished

Created a school based Farm to School Team that meets regularly

Participated in Homegrown School Lunch Week, October 5th -9th

Sent team members to the Regional FFI Fall Conference, on October 20th

Attended meeting today!

Farm to School: School ExpectationsWhat’s next?

What you’ll get in return…

Questions and Comments?

The Pepperfield Project

Rachel WobeterAmeriCorps InternNortheast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative 911 South Mill St. Suite 1 Decorah, IA 52101Email: rwobeter@istate.eduPhone: 563-382-2949

Flannery CerbinAmeriCorps InternNortheast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative 911 South Mill St. Suite 1Decorah, IA 52101Email: fcerbin@iastate.eduPhone: 563-382-2949

Contact Information: