This Week in Farm to School | |
Farm to school connects local agriculture, schools, and partners to benefit students, educators, farmers, families, and communities. | |
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Farm to School Coalition of NC Listening Sessions
We want to hear from you! Have your voice heard through Farm to School Coalition of NC 2024 Listening Sessions. The listening sessions will occur at 3:30 pm to 5 pm throughout February. (Specific dates and zones listed in the form.)
Purpose:
1. To learn about what is happening with Farm to School across the state
2. To understand what stakeholders would like to see happen with Farm to School in North Carolina
3. To learn about what resources are needed for partners around the state
Learn more and register!
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Introduction to Food Safety and USDA Harmonized GAP Certification Standard Series
Starting January 29, 2023 // 4 pm - 5:30 pm ET
Do you plan to get GAP (Good Agricultural Practices)-certified under the USDA Harmonized GAP Standard? This FREE five-part training series is for you! Carolina Farm Stewardship Association will take each section of the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) audit in 1.5-hour sessions and break down, step-by-step, what you need to do to get GAP certified. They will cover all updates to the certification and what they learned from helping farms get GAP certified throughout the year. CFSA loves discussion and welcome farmers to come to the webinars with questions.
Learn more and register.
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School Food Forests - Part Two: Implementation and Maintenance
January 30, 2024 // 2 pm ET
Back by popular demand! The School Garden Support Organization Network and participants are diving back into the world of school food forests - lush and dynamic spaces that incorporate permaculture, regenerative agriculture and native foodways to grow food and provide agricultural education. In November, they shared about the design of these spaces, and this month, they will do deeper on implementation and maintenance. They will also share an example of a school food forest in the more northern climate of Schenectady, NY.
Learn more and register.
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"I Tried Local..." Training by Growing Minds
February 20, 2024 // 3 pm ET
Growing Minds Farm to School Program is part of Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, a nonprofit based in Asheville, NC. We are excited to announce the launch of our new resource: “I Tried Local…” A Toolkit for Engaging Kids with Local Food and Farms. It is designed for use in early care and education (ECE) through second grade and offers curriculum alignment. In this training you will learn about the different components of the Toolkit, hear success stories from farm to school champions across the state, and brainstorm ways you can start using it in your classroom. All are welcome no matter what your experience with farm to school is!
Learn more and register.
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2024 NC Child Hunger Leaders Conference
February 27, 2024 // Chapel Hill, NC
Registration is NOW OPEN for the 2024 NC Child Hunger Leaders Conference, an annual day of celebration and inspiration for anyone invested in making sure kids have access to healthy food. The one-day event is presented by the Carolina Hunger Initiative and will take place Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at The Friday Conference Center in Chapel Hill. Attendees will have a chance to connect with other child hunger leaders from across the state, learn about new strategies and success stories, and leave reenergized to continue the fight against child hunger.
Learn more and register.
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NFSN State Policy Handbook Featured in New Academic Journal Article:
Exploring the relationships among stocks of community wealth, state farm to school policies, and the intensity of farm to school activities
By Pratyoosh Kashyap, Becca B.R. Jablonski, and Allison Bauman
Farm to School (FTS) is a widely implemented public food procurement program in the U.S., and the number of state and Federal policies promoting it continue to grow. However, previous research has found inconclusive results associated with state-level policies. One reason may be that FTS adoption is associated with different stocks of community wealth (assets including human, social, and financial capital, net of liabilities). This research leverages the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2019 FTS Census, a new disaggregated database on state-level FTS policies, and a new comprehensive dataset of stocks of community wealth to assess this relationship. We find positive associations between cultural and social capital and FTS intensity (an index representing the extent of FTS participation), highlighting community assets that are often overlooked in community development programs. Further, we find that different types of state FTS policies are associated with FTS intensity; procurement policies have positive associations and education policies have negative associations. Results provide rationale for more nuanced consideration of local assets in prioritizing the types of FTS policy.
Learn more.
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“I Tried Local…” A Toolkit for Engaging Kids with Local Food and Farms
“I Tried Local…” is designed for use in ECE through second-grade classrooms. The curriculum, created by the Growing Minds team at the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, is divided into 10 units based on foods grown in North Carolina: blueberries, broccoli, carrots, green beans, mushrooms, peppers, radishes, sugar snap peas, sweet corn, and watermelons. You can move through the units in any order that makes sense based on your growing region, curriculum, or program structure. The toolkit has a plethora of additional resources around how to implement farm to school with gardens, classroom cooking, farm field trips and farmer visits, and local food in meals or snacks.
Learn more and download.
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2024 Farm to Early Care and Education (Farm to ECE) Food Systems Internship
The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) is now recruiting summer interns for the 2024 Farm to ECE Food Systems Internship. Interns will have the opportunity to learn about agriculture and local food purchasing and promotion by working with the childcare community in six locations across North Carolina. Applications are due February 16, 2024.
Learn more and apply.
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Embodied Racism - A Nine-Week Virtual Course
In this 9-week course, K.A.P. Inner Prizes offers tools, directions, and safer spaces to settle, process, and practice uprooting white supremacy culture within us. On the other side is the shared sense of connection we so deeply long for. They encourage folks to come in groups of two or more. This work is best done as part of a community of practice with those you are already in accountable relationships with -- your family, friends, co-workers, comrades, and/or church, community, and social groups. This work of uprooting white supremacy culture within ourselves begins with us as individuals but must also spill over into our social lives and the systems that shape them if we are to all get free.
Learn more.
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What is Intersectionality?
The concept of intersectionality describes the ways in which systems of inequality based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, class, and other forms of discrimination “intersect” to create unique dynamics and effects.
Learn more.
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GroMoreGood Grassroots Grant 2024
Deadline: February 9, 2024
The 2024 GroMoreGood Grassroots Grant, brought to you by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and KidsGardening, is designed to bring the life-enhancing benefits of gardens to communities across the United States. In March, 170 programs will receive $500 in funding to start or improve their garden or greenspace. In addition, fifteen programs will receive an additional $1,000 through their Plus, Pride, and Equity Specialty Awards. Whether you are creating an aquaponics program, developing a native plant garden, updating your raised bed garden, or starting an after-school program garden club, consider applying for the grant opportunity.
Learn more and apply.
2024 Creating New Economies Fund (CNEF) Application
Deadline: February 16, 2024
Grassroots organizations in rural North Carolina are encouraged to apply for Resourceful Communities’ 2024 Creating New Economies Fund Grant. This grant funds organizations’ project ideas that support social justice, environmental stewardship, and economic development in your community. All applicants are required to talk to a Resourceful Communities staff person about their project before submitting their application. Grants cannot exceed $15,000. There is no minimum amount that must be requested for an application to be considered, however, grants average between $8,000 to $12,000.
Learn more and apply.
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Harvesting Success: A Year in Review of 2023 Farm to School Policies
In reflecting upon the transformative strides made in 2023 for farm to school, the policy team at National Farm to School Network extends heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated advocates who have been the driving force behind this pivotal year. The unwavering commitment and tireless efforts of the Network have not only shaped policies but nurtured the movement to cultivate vibrant communities. As 2023 comes to a close, let’s celebrate the milestones achieved, the seeds of change planted, and the collective impact of our advocacy.
Learn more.
Overdue Farm Bill Extended Through September 2024
In November, Congress passed an agreement to continue the current Farm Bill through September 30, 2024. House and Senate Agriculture Committees are still at work on their respective drafts of a new Farm Bill (which will need to be negotiated and passed in a final version in each chamber), so there is still time to share your priorities with your legislators.
Learn more.
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