January 11, 2024

This Week in Farm to School 

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

Advancing Racial and Social Equity in Wisconsin Farm to School: Strategies for Investing in Historically Underserved Producers

January 17, 2024 // 1 pm ET

How can schools, support organizations, and policymakers improve access for historically underserved producers to participate in farm to school procurement? Allison Pfaff Harris of REAP Food Group and Jess Guffey Calkins of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension will share findings from their 2023 study report that delved into the needs and opportunities of historically underserved Wisconsin producers for engaging in farm to school markets. This report’s in-depth information about barriers faced by producers and detailed stakeholder recommendations are relevant for anyone looking to improve farm to school procurement.

Learn more and register.

Selecting a Hydroponic System for Your Classroom

January 18, 2024 // 7 pm ET

This webinar by KidsGardening helps educators interested in starting a hydroponic garden select the system that best fits their needs and resources. Hydroponic gardening is a great alternative for educators who are short on space and/or challenged by long winter months during the school year. It also offers opportunities for students to explore the merging of agriculture and technology while exploring science basics.

Learn more and register.

2024 Creating New Economies Fund Grant Webinar

January 22, 2024 // 12 pm - 1:30 pm ET or 6 pm - 7:30 pm ET

Join Resourceful Communities for an enlightening overview of the Creating New Economies Fund Grant application and their process. During this webinar, you will get an understanding of CNEF, its mission, and the specific criteria that determine eligibility. They’ll provide a detailed walkthrough of the CNEF application process, ensuring you have the confidence to navigate each section seamlessly. This is an opportunity to get your questions answered by their staff while providing you with the clarity needed to submit a successful application. As a reminder, ALL proposals must be discussed with a Resourceful Communities staff person before submission.

Learn more and register.

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 we 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.

North Carolina Youth Legislative Assembly Accepting Applications

The Youth Legislative Assembly (YLA) is a three-day program that allows students to draft, debate, and vote on mock legislative bills while developing skills in research, interviewing, group facilitation, and policy writing. The YLA will be held April 19-21, 2024. YLA provides the opportunity for North Carolina’s youth to engage with peers from across the state in a structured, positive, youth-focused environment. Applications are due January 16, 2024.

Learn more.

Applications for the 2024-25 Farm to School Institute Adaptation Program

Vermont FEED’s Farm to School Institute is a proven professional learning model for growing robust farm to school programs that last. Through action planning, coaching, peer networking, and skill building, teams create sustainable farm to school programs that connect the dots between classrooms, cafeterias, and communities. Facilitated by Shelburne Farms Institute for Sustainable Schools, the Farm to School Institute Adaptation Program is an opportunity for farm to school leaders across the country to adapt the model to their region and grow farm to school in your state. Applications are due Monday, January 29, 2024. 

Learn more.

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.

Seed Sovereignty and ‘Our Living Relatives’ in Native American Community Farming and Gardening

This presentation by Elizabeth Hoover explores how Native American community-based farming and gardening projects are defining heirloom or heritage seeds; why maintaining and growing out these seeds is seen as so important, and how terms like seed sovereignty should be defined and enacted.

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Preventing Racial Inequity in Schools and Beyond

This brief video by Race Foward shows a success story of how community-based organizations worked with their school district to predict and prevent racial disparities in schools. 

Learn more.

Partnerships for Local Agriculture & Nutrition Transformation in Schools (PLANTS)

Deadline: January 22, 2024

The Chef Ann Foundation is seeking proposals for projects led by groups of local partners with systemic and equity-driven approaches to transforming school food supply chains. Projects should seek to build and strengthen relationships among community-based food system stakeholders and School Food Authorities (SFAs) as well as expand scratch cooking in schools in order to build more nourishing school meal programs. This program is funded by the USDA Food & Nutrition Service Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative and is administered by the Chef Ann Foundation in partnership with Kitchen Sync Strategies Collaborative, Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, and National Farm to School Network. 

Learn more and apply.

2024 Farm to School Grant

Deadline: January 24, 2024

The USDA Farm to School Program is excited to announce the official release of the fiscal year (FY) 2024 Farm to School Grant Program Request for Applications (RFA). USDA will award up to $12 million in competitive grants to eligible entities through the grant program this fiscal year. Each grant will help implement farm to school programming that increases access to local food in eligible schools, connects children with agriculture for better health, and inspires youth to consider careers in agriculture. The RFA includes five tracks - Implementation, State Agency, and three Turnkey grants - to support a variety of projects and implementation stages. A wide variety of entities are eligible to compete for funding through this grant opportunity. Schools and other institutions operating the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and/or Summer Food Service Program; State agencies; local agencies; ITOs; small- to medium-sized agricultural producers or groups of small- to medium-sized agricultural producers; and non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for Farm to School Grants.

Learn more and apply.

Center for School and Community Partnerships at Boise State University

Deadline: January 26, 2024

The Center for School and Community Partnerships at Boise State University’s Request for Applications for the Supporting Community Agriculture and Local Education Systems Sub-Grants (SCALES) is now open. SCALES will award up to 35 rural School Food Authorities (SFA) across the nation. Grant awards will be up to $150,000. SCALES will work with SFA directors over a two-year period to build partnerships for innovative solutions to increase local procurement in school meal programs.

Learn more and apply.

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. 

Op-ed: Beginning Farmers Are at a Crossroads. Here’s How the Next Farm Bill Can Help. 

From supporting education to providing funding opportunities, the massive legislative package can ensure a more just and inclusive farm landscape.

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Congressional Ag Spending Deadline Approaching

The extended deadline for Congress to pass its overdue annual spending bill (for Fiscal Year 2024) is approaching fast on January 19. Now is the time to get in touch with your legislators, particularly influential members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, to let them know how important Farm to School Grant Program funding is for your community!

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.