This Week in Farm to School 

Farm to school connects local agriculture, schools, and partners to benefit students, educators, farmers, families, and communities.

Farm to School Coalition of NC Listening Sessions

There is still time left to 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!

A Call to Fierce Love and Civility in Food Systems and Beyond

Tomorrow! February 16, 2024 // 9 am - 1 pm ET

Join Food Solutions New England to explore the practices of “fierce love and civility” across differences and how these might help create the better world that is needed and possible. 

Learn more and register.

"I Tried Local..." Training by Growing Minds

February 20, 2024 // 3 pm ET

Growing Minds Farm to School Program is part of the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, a nonprofit based in Asheville, NC. They are excited to announce the launch of their 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.

A Call to Right Relations and Climate Resilience in Food Systems and Beyond

February 23, 2024 // 9 am - 1 pm ET

Many reckon with the tragic history of what has been done to Indigenous peoples through the process of colonization and economic greed. During this session, Food Solutions New England is honored to welcome two Indigenous guests who have generously agreed to share how one might honor the spirit of longstanding treaties and respectfully engage with “all our kin.”

Learn more and register.

Virtual Farm Field Trips Webinar

February 28, 2024 // 2 pm ET

Whether students are stuck inside and can’t go out to learn in the garden or you simply want to expose them to a variety of agricultural practices and growing climates, virtual farm field trips are an excellent resource to utilize. They also can be an innovative way to showcase your school garden program with your community and stakeholders. Join the School Garden Support Organization Network to learn about options for guided farm field trips, as well as resources, tips and considerations for school garden programs interested in hosting your own. 

Learn more and register.

Register Today - New NC State Extension School Garden Course

Spring is approaching which means it’s time to dig back into the school garden! NC State Cooperative Extension’s online school garden course will help you learn more about starting or maintaining a school garden and its connections to Farm to School. Topics in the course include introduction to Farm to School, school garden design, accessibility in school gardens, and more!

Learn more and register.

Meet Your Farmer: A Video Series by Growing Minds

Meet some of the people who grow your food! Growing Minds' Meet Your Farmer and Junior Farm Tour videos provide students and families with virtual tours of family farms in Western North Carolina. Each video is paired with complementary educational resources, including comprehension questions, lesson plans, and more. 

Learn more.

North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Director: Benefits of Farm to School in North Carolina Video

Dr. Rich Bonanno, Associate Dean and Director of NC State Extension, highlights the benefits of Farm to School in North Carolina. 

Learn more.

Food Solutions New England 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge

Food Solutions New England will host its 10th annual 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge from April 1st to April 21st. Each year, thousands of individuals and hundreds of officially participating organizations join in a shared journey of learning and charting a course of action to dismantle racism in our food system and our world.

Learn more and register. 

Using Garden Books as Windows and Mirrors

When we read books that act as “windows” and “mirrors” with kids, it can help them cultivate acceptance, understanding, and compassion, as well as reaffirm their unique culture, traditions, and backgrounds. This resource was created by KidsGardening. 

Learn more.

2024 Creating New Economies Fund (CNEF) Application

Tomorrow! 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. 

Garden Grant Program

Deadline: March 1, 2024

Through the Whole Kids Foundation Garden Grant program, schools and non-profit organizations turn outdoor spaces into powerful hands-on learning gardens that connect kids with food, spark their curiosity, and support classroom curriculum. Their grant program provides a $3,000 monetary grant to support a new or existing edible educational garden located at a K-12 school or non-profit organization. 

Learn more and apply.

Better Food Policy Fund Unrestricted Grant

Deadline: March 5, 2024

The Better Food Policy Fund's debut grantmaking program will award $600,000 in unrestricted funding to 10 US-based food policy councils over two years to support their work to effect better food policy through civic collaboration. Through this pilot program, they seek to celebrate and uplift the work of food policy councils and believe every food policy council is worthy of funding. They hope to grow and expand the field of food policy councils through funding and fostering shared learning.

Learn more and apply.

Request for Applications: Supporting the Use of Traditional Indigenous Foods in the Child Nutrition Programs

Deadline: March 18, 2024 

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service will award $2 million in total grant funding to up to four (4) organizations to provide regionally focused training and technical assistance (TA) to School Nutrition Professionals on procurement, preparation, and crediting of traditional Indigenous foods, including the use of cooperator and FNS-developed resources and tools. The cooperators, with FNS guidance and approval, will also develop culturally relevant nutrition education materials for students to accompany the traditional Indigenous foods that are served, and the cooperators will train school nutrition professionals and other school staff on providing nutrition education to students.

Learn more and apply.

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (USDA NIFA) 

Deadline: April 4, 2024

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) supports projects that provide education, outreach, and technical assistance for beginning farmers and ranchers in the United States and its territories to enter and/or improve their success in farming, ranching, and management of nonindustrial private forest lands; and provide beginning farmers and ranchers the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to make informed decisions for their operations and enhance their sustainability.

Learn more.

Amplifying Impact with More Michigan Farm and Foods: 10 Cents a Meal 2021-2022 Evaluation Results

The 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids and Farms (10 Cents a Meal) program continues to reach more children in schools, districts, and childcare sites across Michigan, with the 2021-2022 school year serving the largest number of participating grantees yet. Amplifying Impact with More Michigan Farms and Food shows the evaluation findings from the 2021-2022 10 Cents a Meal program. This report showcases 10 Cents a Meal’s impact by examining the faceted impact on Michigan kids, farms, and food service programs. From “What foods were served through 10 Cents?” to “The Big Picture: Does 10 Cents Work?”, this report provides key indicators towards progress achieved and future opportunities for growth.

Learn more.

Quarterly State Policy Roundtables

February 26, 2024 // 3 pm ET

After the great reception of our December 2023 State Policy Roundtable, the National Farm to School Network (NFSN) has decided to host these sessions quarterly! Save the date for their upcoming session on February 26th. This session is designed for both NFSN and Partners to share and discuss insights and updates on state-level policy. If you are not yet an NFSN Partner, learn more and sign up to become one here.

Learn more.