This Week in Farm to School from NC

June 9, 2022

2022 Southeast Jr. Chef Competition Results

Congrats to the “Spice Girls” North Carolina Jr. Chef Team from Apex High School for winning second place with their tasty Sope recipe at the 2022 Southeast Jr. Chef Competition May 27. Each team member receives an $8,000 scholarship to attend Sullivan University. 

Read more 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.

Small Farms Field Day

June 23, 2022 // 8 am - 1 pm ET

Join North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University for their Small Farms Field Day! Demonstrations on growing organic ginger in high tunnels and displays showing high tunnel fruit quality are among the topics for this year’s field day. Farmers, ranchers and researchers attend the event each year to learn new practices and understand trends in farming. Lunch is provided.

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.

The Power of Youth Led Food Justice - The Praxis Project

Bevelyn Afor Ukah believes that youth power holds the key to our survival and collective freedom. Only through our ability to be in multigenerational relationships with one another in our organizing efforts will we be able to achieve the just world we know we deserve. Bevelyn's work at the Food Youth Initiative (FYI) at the Center for Environmental Farming System, centers their work in the food justice space. Food Justice for FYI is more than just about food access, their organizing efforts span across interconnected issue areas leading us towards liberation. Bevelyn speaks to us as a person ever learning from the wisdom and leadership that youth have to offer. Sharing the stories of her student organizers and all the ways they are working to transform our communities for the future. 

Listen here.

North Carolina State School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) Meeting Resources

School health leaders gathered virtually for the 2022 North Carolina State School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) Meeting, “SHACs as Support Systems: Sustaining WSCC Efforts and Filling Your Own Cup”, April 27-28. Slides that were made available by presenters, recordings of presentations, and additional resources are now available from the meeting. Check out these great resources. Please note that there were some technical difficulties and not all sessions were recorded. If you have questions or need more information, please reach out to the NC Healthy Schools Team.

View resources 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, principals, 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.

Green Our Planet's Hydroponics STEM Program Grant Application

Tomorrow! 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

Tomorrow! 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.

Little Seeds Pollinator Pals Grant

Deadline: July 15, 2022

Little Seeds and KidsGardening are excited to announce the launch of the 2022 Little Seeds Pollinator Pals Grant. This grant will award a total of 20 programs $500 in funding to develop new or expand existing pollinator gardens. Any nonprofit organization, school district, university, government entity, or tax-exempt organization, like religious organizations and Tribal governments, in the United States and US Territories serving at least 15 youth is eligible to apply. Programs must be planning a new or expanding an existing youth garden designed to teach about the importance of pollinators. Previous winners of the Little Seeds Pollinator Pals Grant are not eligible. 

Learn more and 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 US 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.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Framework to Transform the Food System

The USDA recently announced the details of a framework to transform the food system to benefit consumers, producers and rural communities by providing more options, increasing access, and creating new, more, and better markets for small and mid-size producers. The new framework focuses on food production, processing, aggregation and distribution, and markets and consumers - with goals to build a more resilient food supply chain, create a fairer food system, making nutritious food more accessible and affordable, and emphasizing equity. Funding is provided by the American Rescue Plan Act and other relief legislation.

Read more here.

Support Kids Not Red Tape

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress gave USDA the ability to issue special flexibilities to school meal and community meal sponsors, recognizing the importance of access to crucial nutrition programs. Without these waivers, children would have missed out on a crucial source of nutrition during school closures and virtual learning. This lifeline for so many kids continues to be important as families and nutrition professionals cope with ongoing effects of the pandemic, including closures of school, work, and child care, staffing shortages, and supply chain challenges. Bipartisan bills in the House and Senate would keep this crucial flexibility. 

Submit your comment here.

Carolina Farm Stewardship Association Advocacy (CFSA) Training Program

Deadline: June 15, 2022 

Are you passionate about sustainable food and agriculture? Do you want to enhance your ability to advocate for causes that are important to you? Consider applying to CFSA’s Member Advocacy Program! The Member Advocacy Program (MAP) is a free opportunity for those interested in upping their advocacy game by studying with the CFSA Policy Team. Participants will grow their advocacy skills and network with fellow food and farming advocates across North and South Carolina. The program begins on July 27th. 

Apply here.

Anneliese Singh’s Handout from The Racial Healing Handbook

The Racial Healing Handbook is a powerful and practical guide to help you navigate racism, challenge privilege, manage stress and trauma, and begin to heal. This handout from the book allows you to reflect on your own personal healing journey. There are different sections depending on how you identify. 

Learn more here.

How Racism in Early Life Can Affect Long-Term Health

Excessive adversity activates biological reactions that can lead to lifelong problems in physical and mental well-being. This knowledge can help us better understand why people of color in the United States are at greater risk of developing chronic medical conditions and aging prematurely than white people. 

Learn more here.