This Week in Farm to School from NC

June 2, 2022

Cooking Matters Series

June 1 - July 6, 2o22 // 7 pm EDT

Join the Carolina Hunger Initiative for free online, nutrition, and cooking education lessons! This Cooking Matters series encourages caregivers and their children to prepare healthy meals and snacks together. Lessons will also share ideas on how to help kids eat more fruits and vegetables, and will include live cooking demonstrations. All lessons will be held via Zoom. The Zoom link will be sent to participants after completing the registration form.

Register here. 

Self-Advocacy: Getting What You Need to Thrive

June 8, 2022 // 3 pm EDT

In this workshop with the BIMPOC School Nutrition Leadership Network, participants will spend time digging into what self-advocacy is and how to do it. Participants will also talk to one another about how they have used self-advocacy in the past, what barriers prevent us from speaking up about our needs, and get prepared to use it in the future so we can all thrive!

This workshop is free and open to Black, Indigenous, Multiracial, and People of Color who are working in the school food system. 

Register here.

Funding Your School Food Garden

June 14, 2022 // 4 pm EDT

In this webinar, hosted by Kids Gardening, a panel of garden experts will discuss ways to fundraise. From crowdfunding, to securing donations, learn what makes your program attractive to local supporters. Join to learn how to fundraise and secure donations locally. 

Register here.

Racial Equity in Farm to School Training Series (Virtual Workshops)

June 21 - October 25, 2022 //3 - 5 pm EDT

Please join the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) Farm to School Initiative for a virtual series on Racial Equity in Farm to School. This free, 5 session, 120 min workshop series will be led by a team from we are (www.weare-nc.org). This year’s series will be structured to allow for extended learning for past attendees while remaining accessible for new participants. Join us! Questions? Contact kblackb@ncsu.edu.

Register here.

Women in Agriculture Conference

August 17 - 18, 2022

The AgrileadHer™ conference is created for every woman who is passionate about agriculture and food, whether you are a university student studying agriculture, producer, entrepreneur, representative of a grower association, or corporate agribusiness. Register for the 2022 virtual conference today and get inspired to make a difference in your career.

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The conference is hosted by the University of Georgia, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and the University of Tennessee. Funding was made possible in part by the USDA's Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) grants.

Register here.

How Youth Gardens Can Support Social Emotional Learning

During these challenging times, educators, parents, and caregivers can guide kids as they heal from the difficulties presented by the pandemic and show them how experiences of adversity can help us grow and bloom. We can encourage them to search out places that can nurture this process.

Read more here.

A Guide to Smart Snacks in School

The United States Department of Agriculture Team Nutrition’s “A Guide to Smart Snacks in School” is a valuable resource for parent organizations, school wellness coordinators and teams, principles, fundraising chairs, and snack bar managers. In this new publication of Smart Snacks in School, find information on nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold to students outside of the School Meals Programs on the school campus during the day. 

Read more here.

From Farm to Lunch Tray: How Halifax County Schools Is Growing Its Own Food For School Meals

This is the second piece in a three-part series on farm to school in North Carolina. The first piece highlights the Farm to School Coalition of North Carolina.

Read more here.

Green Our Planet's Hydroponics STEM Program Grant Application

Deadline: June 10, 2022

This is an application for Green Our Planet’s Hydroponics STEM Program. The full cost of this program is $10,000. If awarded a grant, Green Our Planet will cover $8,000 of the program cost and your school will be responsible for covering the additional $2,000 needed to fully fund the program. This grant opportunity is open to public and charter schools located in the United States.

Apply here.

Green Our Planet's GardenConnect STEM Program Grant Application

Deadline: June 10, 2022

This is an application for Green Our Planet’s GardenConnect STEM Program. The full cost of this program is $3,500. If awarded a grant, Green Our Planet will cover $2,500 of the program cost and your school will be responsible for covering the additional $1,000 needed to fully fund the program. This grant opportunity is open to public and charter schools located in the United States.

Apply here.

Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program - Produce Prescription Program

Deadline: June 30, 2022

The National Institute for Food and Agriculture's (NIFA) Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program - Produce Prescription Program focuses on projects that improve dietary health through increased consumption of fruits and vegetables; reduce individual and household food insecurity; and reduce healthcare use and associated costs. Submissions for grants have now opened. Applications may only be submitted by government agencies and non-profit organizations; however, award recipients may sub-award to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project.

Apply here.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture Grant

Deadline: July 28, 2022

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Sustainable Agricultural Systems supports approaches that promote transformational changes in the U.S. food and agriculture system. NIFA seeks creative and visionary applications that take a systems approach for projects that are expected to significantly improve the supply of affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible agricultural products while fostering economic development and rural prosperity in America. 

Learn more here.

Mitigating Impact of Waiver Expiration

Many waivers were not extended for the 2022-23 school year, however USDA did announce some flexibilities available to states. Beginning on July 1, 2022, states will be able to apply for flexibilities. They do not align with all the expiring waivers, namely meal pattern requirements and area eligibility. Find more information, including options for programs that will struggle with the loss of area eligibility waivers in this USDA policy update from the 2022 National Child Nutrition Conference. In light of the upcoming waiver expirations, No Kid Hungry has updated a report on leveraging COVID relief funds to mitigate impact.

Read more here.

American Indian Foods Prepares to Broaden Horizons with First Nations Trade Mission

The Intertribal Agriculture Council’s American Indian Foods program is driven by the mission to grow the available markets for Native-made products. Oftentimes, that means helping producers get to trade shows or assisting them with access to market research. But the First Nations Trade Mission at the end of May presents American Indian Foods with an opportunity to broaden export services to a “new market” for Indigenous food producers.

Read more here.

How the Government Helped White Americans Steal Black Farmland

There was once a thriving Black middle class based on farm ownership. But during the twentieth century, the USDA helped erase that source of wealth. This article explores the history and research analyses on systemic legislation, policies and practices that have impacted farm land ownership. 

Read here.