Vermont FEED: Farm to School Food Education Every Day
NEWSLETTER
September 30, 2011
IN THIS ISSUE
Vermont Farm to School Network
Upcoming Events
VT FEED is Hiring!
Funding Opportunities
Curriculum Guide
Save the Date!
Jr Iron Chef VT is scheduled for March 24, 2012!
Applications will be available Monday, October 3. 
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Greetings!

With school now in session, we have lots of exciting news and opportunities coming up this fall to share with you. 

Last year, Congress designated October as Farm to School Month, and the second week of the month is also National School Lunch week as designated by the School Nutrition Association. Vermonters are getting ready to celebrate! Students, parents, farmers, food service professionals, and teachers across the state are cooking up harvest meals and taste tests, kicking up their heels and rolling up their sleeves in anticipation!

 

Recent USDA data indicates high school students in Vermont eat more fresh fruits and vegetables than youth from most other states, thanks to all of you who work to connect local farms, cafeterias and classrooms.

 

There are lots of ways to celebrate Farm to School this October! For a list of events, ideas and resources, visit our website. 

Farm to School Network Forum 

Thanks to all of you who came out for the Farm to School Network Forum at Randolph Elementary! We heard about lots of exciting Farm to School events coming up this fall, shared resources for celebrating Farm to School month, created seed "rain drops" in the art room, and danced to Beyonce's "Move Your Body".  

 

If you missed the event, be sure to check out the coverage from WCAX.

 

Be sure to let us know what you are doing to recognize Farm to School Month so we can share with the world! Don't have a celebration planned, yet? Don't worry! Visit our website for a list of easy and fun ideas for cooking up some fun. 

 

 

We hope you'll join us in hosting a public screening of the new video "Building a Healthy Food System: One Bite at a Time" during National School Lunch Week (Oct. 10-14) or any time. View here or  contact us for a copy of  the three-part documentary highlighting promising practices of Farm to School education..  Produced in Vermont by It's a Fine Mess! Productions, the film will be screened on October 22 at the Vermont International Film Festival.   

 

We are excited to announce a new feature on the Vermont Farm to School Network webpage where you can share information about the great work you are doing - it can inspire and guide others! Please post your Farm to School information and events to the Vermont Farm to School Network community and calendar pages.

Upcoming Farm to School Events
  • Growing Strong Roots: A Regional Farm to School Workshop  Join Green Mountain Farm to School and Vermont FEED to celebrate the rapidly emerging Farm to School programs and initiatives in the region Gather ideas, resources and support to foster strong and sustainable Farm to School programs in your community.
    • November 1-- 3:30-7:30 pm, North Country Career Center, Newport, VT
    • November 2--3:30-7:30 pm, Swanton School, Swanton, VT 

             Download the flyer for more information or click here to register. 

  • Greet the Challenge: Embracing Change in School Nutrition Programs                                                                                                Join the School Nutrition Association of Vermont for their fall conference.This conference will be valuable not only to school food providers, but farmers, teachers, parents, and school community members. 
    • October 21 and 22, Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, VT 

   Click here for more information and to register.

  • Vermont Fresh Network's Vermont Food Matchmaker Event   Meet VT farmers, producers, chefs and other Food Service Directors at the annual VT Food Matchmaker event at Shelburne Farms! One-on-one meetings provide opportunities to talk with potential new accounts, with time set aside for networking and a chance to explore the range of Vermont products available.
    • October 27, 2011, Coach Barn at Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, VT

              Click here for more information and to register 

 

There are lots more exciting events coming up this fall including a New Hampshire Farm to School Conference, the Farm-based Education Association Conference and tons of local community events across the state. For a full list, please visit our calendar

Vermont FEED is hiring a Communications Outreach Coordinator!

The Communications Outreach Coordinator is a 32-hour per week position at Shelburne Farms. The Coordinator will work closely with VT FEED Director and partner organizations to plan and implement statewide communications, network planning and meeting facilitation, fundraising and other strategic priorities. Full Job Description can be found here.

Farm to School Grants

It's that time of year again  - apply for a Farm to School grant! 

 

Since 2007 the Rozo McLaughlin Farm-to-School Grant Program has been awarding Vermont schools with funds to integrate local foods in school cafeterias, classrooms and communities. The goals of the grant program are to encourage schools and school districts to serve food to Vermont students that is as fresh and nutritious as possible; maximize the use of fresh, locally grown, produced and processed foods; educate students about healthy eating habits through nutrition education, including using hands-on techniques to make the connections between farming and the foods that students consume; increase the size and stability of farmers' direct sales market; and increase school meal participation by increasing the selection of foods available to students.

 

This grant program is made possible by collaboration between the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Department of Education, Department of Health and VT FEED (Food Education Every Day).

 

Applications are due October 20, 2011. More information and applications can be found here.

 

Check out more funding opportunities on our website.

 

 

Vermont Farm to School: Food, Farm and Nutrition Curriculum Units

During our pilot years, Vermont FEED had the opportunity to work with educators around the state on developing food, farm, and nutrition curriculum units and experiential Farm to School lessons and activities. The challenge continually faced by schools and teachers was just how time consuming and laborious it was to create and implement new Farm to School units. This guide is our answer to that challenge. Through our partnerships with the schools and teachers we have worked with over the past 10 years, we've identified seven units spanning grades K-12 to share with educators in Vermont and beyond.

 

You can download any of the curriculum units for free on our website.



Sincerely,

The Vermont FEED Team