Each month the Cambridge
in Motion team sends a flyer with fun facts and a family newsletter to celebrate the Mass Farm to School partnership. We hope your family enjoys the fun and learning opportunities within! Download the PDF here!

This month we are learning about winter squash and the supplemental crops of dried beans & cabbage! Enjoy the fun resources, recipes, lessons and activities that keep your family exploring and thriving!

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Image of assorted dried beans, by Jan Nijman from Pixabay
Fun Facts on Winter Squash, Dried Beans, and Cabbage!
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What do squash have in common with cucumbers, melons, and pumpkins? They are all in the Cucurbitaceae family!

Cabbage is full of Vitamin C. Explorers sailing on ships in the 1600s brought pickled cabbage to prevent scurvy.

Winter squash are a good source of
Vitamin A and minerals, and also contain Vitamins B and C!

In ancient Greece, public officials were elected by dropping beans in a jar!

The word squash comes from the Narragansett Native American word “askutasquash” which translate to “eaten raw or uncooked."
February Harvest of the Month Video!
Watch our Cambridge in Motion monthly video series featuring the Harvest of the Month! You'll watch our public health nutritionist bring to life the fun facts, make a quick snack, and give a nutrition or food preparation tip!

Joke of the Month

Q: How do farmers fix their jeans?

A: With a cabbage patch!
Fun & Games
Mancala is a strategy game that some historians date back to 7th century Egypt, where players use stones, beans, or seeds to move through a surface with holes. The player who ends up with the most beans wins! Mancala boards are easy to make and dried beans can be used as the pieces. 
Bowl of dried beans, Image by Søren Brath from Pixabay.com.
For At-Home or Classroom Learning!
(1) No Kimchi for Me: Students will learn about the importance of cabbage to Korean culture, by listening to a read-aloud book and identifying characters, settings, and major events. (Grades K-2)

(2) The Tallest Bean Plant: Students will plant seeds and explore which conditions affect plant growth. They will design and conduct experiments and compare and contrast to understand what variables influence the health and growth of living things. (Grades 3-5)
How the 3 Sisters Crops Benefit Each Other & the Soil
The crops of corn, beans, and squash are known as the Three Sisters. For centuries these three crops have been the center of Native American agriculture and culinary traditions. Corn provides tall stalks for the beans to climb so that they are not out-competed by sprawling squash vines. Beans provide nitrogen to fertilize the soil while also stabilizing the tall corn during heavy winds. Beans are nitrogen-fixers meaning they host rhizobia on their roots that can take nitrogen, a much needed plant nutrient, from the air and convert it into forms that can be absorbed by plant roots. The large leaves of squash plants shade the ground which helps retain soil moisture and prevent weeds.
Food Waste Tip of the Month!
Make friends with your freezer!
The freezer can be a waste-free kitchen’s best pal. Freezing food is basically like hitting the pause button. Try freezing dark leafy greens that are starting to wilt: chop them up, put them in a plastic bag in the freezer, then use them by the handful in smoothies, sauces, and curries.

Some tips for becoming a successful food-freezing champion: Freeze in portions, use airtight containers to reduce freezer burn, and do a survey of what’s in the freezer every once in a while, since nothing lasts forever!
Delicious Recipes!
A yummy idea for dinner this week - Turkey Spaghetti Squash Bake!

Looking for a no-cook side dish? Try this Citrusy Cabbage Salad!

If you have a slow cooker, try the Acorn Squash with Sage Cranberry Rice Stuffing!

Try these vegetarian Black Bean Sliders on slider buns or on their own!

Try this Butternut Squash & Pesto on pasta for a vegetarian dinner tonight (just add a little protein and you have a meal!)

On a cold night, try a side of Whole Grain Mac, Cheese & Butternut Squash to warm up!

Check out this card with recipes for both Cuban Black Beans and Vegetable Chili with Beans!
Children's Book Spotlight

Katie's Cabbage

Written by Katie Stagliano &
Michelle H. Martin
Illustrated by Karen Heid

For grades 2-5

"Katie's Cabbage is the inspirational true story of how a third grader from Summerville, South Carolina, grew a forty-pound cabbage in her backyard and donated it to help feed 275 people at a local soup kitchen. In her own words, Katie shares the story of the little cabbage seedling and the big ideas of generosity and service that motivated her to turn this experience into a national youth movement aimed at ending hunger one vegetable garden at a time."

Cover of the book, Katie's Cabbage. Image of children standing around a cabbage.
Links to download the Mass Farm to School Harvest of the Month Newsletter:
Cambridge Public Health Department

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