Notes from Summer Gathering – August 3, 2010,

Cobb Hill Farm and Community – Hartland, Vermont

Participants:

Leah Tofolson, Sarah Bowering and Ruth Fleishman (Hartford Memorial Middle School), Keenan Haley and Meg Hopkins (Sharon Elementary School and UVFTS Steering Committee), Rima Nickell (Lyme Elementary School and UVFTS), Beth Carlson (Windsor State Street School), Chloe Powers (Barnard Academy and Red Clover Camp), Brooke Newsome (Woodstock Union High School), Peter Allison (Hartland Elementary School and UVFTS), Gretchen Czaja (Woodstock Elementary School), Abby Nelson (VT FEED and NOFA VT), Chuck Fenton (Reinventing the Meal & UVFTS Steering Committee); Don Seville (Sustainable Food Lab and UVFTS Steering Committee); Judith Bush (Cobb Hill Cheese maker – ex officio, Farm Correspondent participant); Bridget Hardy (UVFTS event coordinator).

Email updates from Cat Buxton (Cedar Circle Farm), Amy Richardson (Richardson Farm and NOFA farm mentor), Kate Remainis (Newton School in Strafford); phone update from Abbey Willard (Randolph FTS and White River Conservation District).

Upper Valley FTS Program Updates:

Hartford Memorial Middle School:  Are using the school garden, and Colonial herb garden, planting ancient grains for use in social studies class; interest in integrating more local food in school lunch and using gardens more – also working with other middle school teachers on FTS curriculum ideas.

Lyme (NH) Elementary School: Rima is working for UVFTS through an arrangement with NH Able, a senior employment organization. Her first efforts will be to coordinate FTS efforts in Lyme along with their team teachers, parents and staff.  Her first efforts are focusing on local foods in cafeteria as well as using the new garden as a teaching tool.

Sharon Elementary School: Sharon is in its 7^th year as a FTS school, with comprehensive efforts in the garden, cafeteria and classroom. This year they added a “Farm Rally” program, getting students out to farms with video cameras, and also started a farmers market at the school, which raises funds for their program.   Megan and Keenan are interested in finding more parent involvement strategies and doing what they are doing as well and efficiently as possible.

Barnard Academy: Chloe worked with various classes this year on FTS projects.  With a Garden for Learning grant they involve students in the community garden at Silver Lake, which is then tended by the Red Clover Camp in the summer.  Barnard does not have a cafeteria, but the local country store caters a lunch once a week – this year, they will feature local food once a month.  Classrooms have been taking field trips, and the 5^th grade participated in the Trek to Taste event in June with a bread making and honey display.

Woodstock Union High School: There are a variety of entities at the HS involved in related activities, including FTS, Agriculture Club, Earth Beat, and Vermont Youth Conservation Corps.  There is a new 20’ x 40’ garden at the school, and VYCC has 2 rows of squash at a local farm for use at the school cafeteria.  There is a community FTS volunteer in addition to Brooke and Katrina Jimerson, art teachers who have led the program.  Focus for coming year is healthy snacks to make and sell.  The HS also participated in Trek to Taste, making wood fired pizza on Mount Tom.

State Street School, Windsor VT: The SSS FTS grant ran out in June. Beth is working to keep the program up and running.  A new principal is starting in the fall.  The school started additional raised beds on the school grounds, and expanded gardens at the nearby senior housing complex.  The cafeteria director brings food waste to the Windsor Correctional Facility where it is composted.  Lots of field trips and classroom activities.

Woodstock Elementary School:  Gretchen reported that after many years of nipping around the edges of FTS, WES hit the ground running this past year.  FTS coordinator Lalita Karoli has been a great leader, helping increase use of local food in cafeteria, purchasing a salad bar, increasing school gardens, holding parent workshops and involving kids in lots of taste tests and food related lessons.  WES received a VT FTS grant in 2009 that runs through this Dec, and also received support from Ottauquechee Community Partnership via a VT DOH grant.

Hartland: Peter noted that 9 Hartland staff attended the VT FTS workshop at Shelburne Farms in June. (HES was invited to apply to send a team and was one of six selected from around the state.)  HES developed a 6 part plan to: establish a formal FTS committee, increase use of local food in cafeteria, integrate FTS in at least one unit for each grade, relocate and expand school garden and compost operation, increase communication and fundraising (as school is not funding FTS in school budget this year).  The Hartland Farm Fest raised $2000 for FTS this May.

Newton School (Strafford): Kate Remainis by email: I would like to create an evaluation tool to use to assess student’s work in Garden Class.  I am happy to take this on, and create a document to share with other teachers and programs.  Much of it can come from the VT State Frameworks that teachers use for each subject.  I wonder if you have thoughts on other folks who would like to help me with this project, or if something similar has already been done. At this point, my students receive a grade for garden class and it’s mostly participation based, but I would like to brainstorm some actual garden skills, such as proper tool use/ tool safety and care, demonstration of care when walking in garden, etc.

Randolph Elementary School: Abbie Willard reported by phone: Strong local food group at the school.  Started a “Farmer for Every Classroom” program last year, which involved all grade 1-6 classes and about 15 farmers.   Included visits to farm, and farmers came to welcome event in fall and picnic celebration in spring with student presentations and food serving.  Last year Randolph had FTS as school theme/ same this year.  Working to refine Taste Test template. Had VT FEED do training for schools with funding from VT FTS grant.  Looking for more guidance with farm tour, goals and ground rules, etc.

Cedar Circle Farm:  Cat Buxton emails: Have 3 dinners in the field in August, a tomato tasting, and showing of “Silent Voices.”  Thetford School and Community Gardens are looking fantastic.  Plans in place to expand school garden and composting with help of Highfield’s Institute.  Farm tours are increasing in popularity.

NOFA-VT Farmer Correspondence Program: Amy Richardson emails: Remind people of the farmer corresponcence program – letter writing with farmers to school classes, and students to farmers. Contact Amy at: farmtoschool@yahoo.com

VT FEED: Abbie Nelson mentioned upcoming Vermont FTS grants from the Agency of Ag, and Community-School Garden Grants that will be administered by VT Community Garden Network.  VT FEED offers many services to schools in areas of curriculum

UVFTS Activities and Program Discussion

Workshops and Forums: Last year UVFTS held 6 workshops and forums for FTS coordinators, teachers and food service staff.  Peter asked for input on topics for workshops in the coming year. The following were suggested:

• Farm to Cafeteria – we did a FTC workshop in January 2010 and it was very successful (43 participants from 18 schools including 9 food service staff.  Planning two workshops this year; one in the fall in NH, and one in January in VT.
• School gardens – we co-hosted a school-community garden workshop with Valley Food and Farm in March.  Suggestion is to hold one in fall around garden planning and one in March about planting and summer strategies.
• Virtual FTS! – In March UVFTS teamed up with Catalyst Webworks to provide training on setting up “YourFTS” pages on the UVFTS.org website.  8 participants came and some others received training off-site. Many schools have expressed interest in starting new pages this year.
• Middle School FTS Teacher Forum – Hartford, Woodstock, Hartland, Springfield, Sharon Academy all have some interest in integrating FTS more into the middle school curriculum.  Early fall seems like best time to have this gathering.
• FTS and Related Arts – lots of ideas how art and music can tie into food and farm themes.  And lots of area art and music teachers have done so – it would be great to have an exhibit of UV FTS art projects – and music!
• FTS teacher and coordinator Forums – informal gatherings for grade teachers and FTS coordinators to share their FTS curriculum, projects, activities and lessons
• Wellborn Ecology Fund Conference – UVFTS has helped coordinate a FTS workshop at this March event the last two years – with lots of help from FTS leaders in VT and NH.  It would be useful to think about how to use this venue that already pulls over 100 place-based educators from the region together.
• Parent and Community Involvement – Peter will send out a list of activities that parents and volunteers can be involved in, and post on the UVFTS website as well. This will serve as a guide for involving volunteers – and can inform any training or idea sharing we do down the line.
• Fundraising – lots of questions about where to generate funds to keep FTS programs going and sustainable – hoping to connect with New England Grass Roots Environmental Fund on some training around this, as well as to generate a pool for FTS mini-grants.
• UVFTS Conference.  In April 2009 we had a conference co-sponsored with VT FEED at Billings Farm – there were 100 people from 22 schools from both NH and VT. We had a panel and then 4 breakout sessions, dinner (that we made) and time for school teams to plan together.  Thinking about doing this again – will need a bigger venue as we maxed out Billings Farm.
• The Trek to Taste on the Trails of Woodstock has served as a showcase for FTS programs the past two Junes, and is scheduled to happen again in early June 2011.  We will announce this event and any related mini-grants available much earlier this year.

Website and e-Newsletter:

Last year, the UVFTS website was revamped and Peter started sending monthly e-newsletters in January.  The website has sections for “YourFTS” – pages or UV school programs, Links, Tools, Events and a Blog – I think both the website and e-newsletter were a good start, and they have the potential to be much more robust and utilized.  Hoping to expand/improve them both this year.

Site Visits and Organizational Assistance:

Over the past two years I visited over 20 schools – in some cases just to see your programs in action, in others to participate in meetings or events.  The organizational assistance requested most includes: working with school cafeteria to integrate local and fresh food more into lunch and breakfast programs, curriculum and activity ideas, getting started, increasing commitment and involvement from administrators, parents and community and fundraising.

At each school I visit (as well as some others that I create a FTS Profile – essentially an entry in a database with information about the school, lunch program, existing FTS-like classes, field trips, and activities, school committees, local farmers, and other information that may help a school evaluate its existing resources and opportunities.

I find these visits to always be useful to me – seeing how different schools are organized and where the energy is for FTS – sometimes it comes from a teacher, others the principal, food service staff, parents or other community members.  It’s really exciting to see how that energy can travel to other parts of the school community.   And in some cases, the initial champion has moved on or away – leaving a hole to fill.  As more schools start FTS programs, this may be an area that we as a Network can help to fill – by lending support, guidance and enthusiasm to rekindle a program.  That’s the goal anyway.

General Networking

I am making it a point to connect with many partner organizations in order to keep up with what is going on in our region and outside of it.  VT FEED is an amazing resource in VT, as is the emerging VT FTS Network – I encourage all to subscribe to their email lists.  In addition, NH FTS is developing some wonderful programs and is actively working with UVFTS in the Upper Region to expand our reach and efforts.  This past May I attended the national Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Detroit, along with 700 people from around the country – great perspective on what is going on elsewhere – and how much our region is doing already.

In our Upper Valley, Vital Communities – Valley Food and Farm Program – is an amazing resource.  In addition to Tidbits, the Flavors of the Valley, the paper and on-line version of Valley Food and Farm Guide, they are now organizing monthly Valley Food and Farm Council meetings that feature monthly topics.  The Wellborn Ecology Fund, Ottauquechee Community Partnership, Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Historical Park, Upper Valley HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living), and many other organizations in our area have aligned mission and interest.  Trying to keep in touch with their programs and efforts and communicate with Upper Valley FTSers is also part of what I do as UVFTS director.

Organized walks leave the NHP Forest Center at 10:30 am and Noon – to the Purple Crayon and Woodstock Farmers Market/ Nordic Ski Hut / and South Peak.

Along the way sample local foods prepared by area farm to school students and local foodies.

More information on partners and activities at: ActivitiesPage

And today, Michele  Obama’s Let’s Move initiative hit the wires, as she announced her ambitious campaign to combat childhood obesity.  Meanwhile, Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack says he’s encouraging schools to focus on community gardens and school gardens.

This national campaign ties in very well with Vermont’s Get Moving initiative and NH Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) as well as so many of our local efforts here in the Upper Valley.

OK – game on.

The UVFTS has had a “fruitful” fall – with several new farm to school programs being launched, new FTS coordinators hired at three schools, forums held for FTS stakeholders and a new steering committee created to help guide the UVFTS bus / tractor down the road/row.  We are grateful to the Wellborn Ecology Fund for a capacity building grant that supports our activities and has helped leverage over $30,000 in additional funds to support FTS efforts in the Upper Valley.

Our recently revised website – www.uvfts.org – provides information about coming events; useful links; tools to connect farms to the classroom, cafeteria and community; a blog and social networking features.  One exciting component is the “Your FTS” page, which allows any FTS program to post and update their own web page, or link to an existing page.   The website is a work in progress, and comments are very welcome.

In 2010, the UVFTS will be holding a series of forums targeted to specific FTS issues.  The first will be a Farm to Cafeteria Working Group – on January 20^th (1-4 PM at the Woodstock Elementary School in Woodstock Vermont).  This gathering is designed for school cafeteria staff and FTS stakeholders to explore challenges and develop strategies related to incorporating local food into the school lunch program.  “Seasoned” cafeteria staff will share lessons related to procurement, processing, storage, serving and marketing local foods.  There is no charge for the session, but participants must register through email to Peter@UVFTS.org or by phone at 802 291-2019.

Wellborn funds also support  UVFTS site visits to schools in the Upper Valley that are interested starting, expanding or sustaining their farm to school program.  Contact us for more information about site visits to your school.

Check out the new web site – www.uvfts.org – and contact Peter Allison atpeter@uvfts.org or 802 291-2019 to register for the Farm to Cafeteria Working Group, to post a page on our website, request a site visit or share your news.

Peter Allison

Director, UVFTS

Here is the recipe and some information on beans: Vermont Bean Soup

Sometimes in Vermont we hear well-meaning people say, “why don’t they serve local food every day?” – and the answer is, money, time, equipment …. and sometimes interest and know-how.

That’s where the farm to school movement comes in – there are lots of examples of schools that have schemed, negotiated, and stretched to find ways to integrate local/healthy, ecologically or organically grown food into their lunch offerings.

Right here in the Upper Valley, the Sharon Elementary School was serving meatballs from a local farmer this week – they have worked out a deal to get the meat at only a slight premium to commodity beef – and the kids love it, and they know it is not going to be recalled.

The farm to school movement can be thought of as one of those “nice” initiatives. I think its nice. I also think it is, in the words of Joanna Macey, “subversive.” Getting kids to understand where their food comes from, tasting local, whole foods, growing, cooking and learning about food and farms and soil and energy, will help to create future citizen leaders who will ask good questions, and bring some sanity back into the food systems that we rely upon three times a day.

 

 

 

By embedding  the Climate Scoreboard on your own websites, blogs, and Facebook pages, you will be able to follow and share with others the progress of the negotiations in Copenhagen from day to day, and continue tracking progress in the months following the conference. As positions in the negotiations evolve the Scoreboard will automatically update to reflect the changes.

I look forward to getting your comments, suggestions and additions – the intent is for this to be a very interactive site for those of us working to connect local food and farms to the school cafeteria, classroom and community.

Peter