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This Week in Farm to School
November 18, 2021
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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 Listserv Submissions
Do you have awards, resources, job openings, grant opportunities, events, or other news you'd like to share with other farm to school friends around the state? Now, you can submit your requests using a brief form, so your information can be included in future newsletters. The deadline to submit your requests is 5 pm on Tuesdays. We’d love to share and celebrate all the farm to school activities happening in North Carolina! Thanks, everyone!
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Race Forward’s 40th Anniversary Celebration
Today! November 18, 2021 // 5 pm EST
For 40 years, Race Forward has played a critical role in the movement for racial justice. But they haven’t done this alone. Throughout their journey, they've been able to build collective power, resources, and networks alongside grassroots organizers, cultural leaders, activists, and government partners.
Supporting Success at Native American, Historically Black, and Hispanic-Serving Education Institutions
Today! November 18, 2021 // 3 - 4:30 pm EST
In this 90-minute webinar, hosted by Michigan State University, you’ll learn more about the goals and strategies of the Native American, Historically Black, and Hispanic-Serving Higher Education Institutions.
NC School Garden Network Soft Launch
Tomorrow! November 19, 2021 // 4 - 5 pm EST
The NC School Garden Network is inviting those interested in school gardens to a soft launch of their network. The goals of this meeting are to share the vision for the NCSGN, brainstorm what the network might look like and become, and discuss plans for an in-person launch this spring.
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NC School Garden Network
Their mission is to inspire educators to step outside of the box and #optoutside. Follow them on Instagram for garden-based learning tips and to find curriculum everywhere!
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Environmental Justice Video Challenge for Students
The United States Environmental Protection Agency and its co-sponsors have launched the Environmental Justice (EJ) Video Challenge for Students to enhance communities’ capacity to address environmental inequities. In Phase 1, students will submit a video that demonstrates innovative approaches to identify and characterize an EJ issue(s) in a community using data and publicly available tools. Challenge participants will have a chance to win up to $20,000, as well as other additional benefits. Details on Phase 2 of the challenge will be shared at a later date. Phase 1 submissions are due April 22, 2022 by 11:59 pm EST.
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True Cost of School Meals
The Center for Good Food Purchasing and The Rockefeller Foundation's new report show that school meals are essential for the health and economic stability of communities. With these findings, policymakers, food professionals, advocates, communities, and individuals are better equipped to maximize value to society, including through investing in school meals, by creating a food system that is more nourishing, regenerative, and equitable.
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Pandemic Response and Safety Grants
Deadline: November 22, 2021
USDA is seeking applications to support agricultural stakeholders who haven’t yet received substantial federal financial assistance to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. The program will help small businesses in certain commodity areas including small specialty crop and aquaculture producers, food processors and distributors, and farmers markets. Small businesses and nonprofits can apply for a grant to cover COVID-related expenses such as workplace safety measures, retrofitting facilities, shifting to online sales platforms, transportation, worker housing, and medical costs. The funding request can range from $1,500 to $20,000.
One Earth Award Student Scholarships
Regional deadlines vary and are as early as December 1st, 2021
The One Earth Award offers $1,000 scholarships for four students whose works address climate change. All students in grades 7–12 (ages 13 and up) are eligible to participate and should apply through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Teens can visit their website to find out their regional deadlines and how to apply.
2021 HFFI funding
Letter of Intent Deadline: December 7, 2021
Reinvestment Fund is inviting applications for the 2021 round of the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Targeted Small Grants program. The 2021 HFFI round is offering at least $4 million in grant funds for food retail and food enterprises working to improve access to healthy foods in underserved areas, create and preserve quality jobs, and revitalize low-income communities. Funding for HFFI is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), authorized by the Farm Bill and Reinvestment Fund, which serves as the national fund manager for the HFFI program at USDA.
2022 Youth Garden Grant
Deadline: December 17, 2021
A total of 50 programs will be awarded Youth Garden Grants in 2022. All winning programs will receive a check for $250 and materials to grow their garden program. Forty programs will receive packages worth $1,050, five programs will receive the base package plus a $1,000 tool grant from Corona Tools, and five programs will receive the base package plus two Garden Towers from Garden Tower Project! Any nonprofit organization, public or private school, or youth program in the United States or U.S. Territories planning a new garden program or expanding an established one that serves at least 15 youth between the ages of 3 and 18 is eligible to apply.
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USDA Farm to School Grant Request for Application
Deadline: January 10, 2022
The United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) seeks to award up to $12 million this fiscal year. Eligible schools, institutions operating the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program, State and local agencies, Indian Tribal Organizations, small- to medium-sized agricultural producers or groups of small- to medium-sized agricultural producers, and non-profit organizations are eligible for Farm to School grants. Priority scoring incentives return for applicants who meet certain criteria, including new priority consideration for organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and serving BIPOC communities, and organizations located in and serving rural areas.
School Nutrition Foundation Equipment Grants
Deadline: January 31, 2022
The School Nutrition Foundation is teaming up with industry partners to provide new kitchen equipment to deserving districts. Apply now for the 2022 SNF Equipment Grant Program, featuring applications for not one but FIVE grants! Eligible applicants have the opportunity to win equipment grants, each worth between $20,000 to $100,000 of equipment. Applications and photos must be submitted by a School Nutrition director. The recipients will be notified in late March. This year, only finalists will be asked to submit a 2-3-minute video.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Evidence for Action: Investigator-Initiated Research to Build a Culture of Health
Deadline: Rolling
This program funds research that expands the evidence needed to build a Culture of Health, which is broadly defined as one in which good health and well-being flourish across geographic, demographic, and social sectors, public and private decision making is guided by the goal of fostering equitable communities, and everyone has the opportunity to make choices that lead to healthy lifestyles. Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis.
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The National Farm to School Network |
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The National Farm to School Network, the Scotts-Miracle Gro Foundation, and Hawthorne Gardening Company are excited to launch the second iteration of the Gro More Good Hydroponic Garden Project! Discovering Through Hydroponics brings together kindergarten through second-grade educations in 25 schools and organizations across Arizona, California, Florida, Oregon, and Washington to integrate hydroponics gardening into their classrooms and other educational settings. The project aims to spark a passion for gardening and increase hands-on science experiences for students who otherwise might not have had the opportunity.
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North Carolina Alliance for Health Final State Budget Report Released
The N.C. Alliance for Health has been working with partners to advocate with policymakers in the N.C. General Assembly for programs and funding to support tobacco use prevention and cessation, healthy food access, and active living in our state. The proposed State Budget included some progress for schools, farms, and communities. For example, the budget includes statutory changes to cap the amount of indirect costs school districts can charge School Nutrition Programs to 8%. A provision was included to raise the minimum wage for non-certified school staff. In addition, the budget includes $40 million in nonrecurring funds for the North Carolina Feeding the Carolinas food banks and $2 million in nonrecurring funds for FarmsSHARE. The N.C. Alliance for Health advocated for $2 million in nonrecurring funds for a GAP cost-share program. The funding was not included, but NCAH and partners will continue to advocate for this. The Senate voted to pass the State Budget. The budget will move forward to the House for a vote today and then onto the Governor for signature. For more information, check out the NCAH budget summary
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Unlearning the History of Thanksgiving
This is a collection of writings and videos to help you unlearn the white colonized version of history surrounding the November holiday, Thanksgiving, and learn instead from Indigenous people of the land now called North America. The readings, podcasts, and videos presented here uplift Indigenous voices. Please listen, watch, read, and share the history as told by Indigenous persons while unlearning harmful false narratives.
Decolonizing Thanksgiving Toolkit Part II: Indigenous Peoples Today
The Decolonizing Thanksgiving Toolkit was created to combat ethnocentrism in schools by sharing resources for teachers, parents, and more. This updated version of the toolkit provides new resources by Indigenous authors that feature contemporary Native peoples.
Reckoning With Race Curriculum
Additional Racial Equity Resources
The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS), one of our Farm to School Coalition of NC partners, has created a document of current webinars as well as resources to facilitate engagement and learning around Racial Equity, both in general and especially as it relates to food systems and education.
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