The Lyme School’s Farm to School project was begun by a group of parents, teachers, school food service staff, and school administrators who wished to see the successful school lunch program boosted even more by offering more nutritious, local foods.  With the help of students and staff, the program has become a mainstay that reaches into the classrooms and community.

 

Since Sept. ’09, the Lyme Farm to School Program has brought the following events to the students of the Lyme School:

• Taste Tests—where students are invited to sample several varieties of local foods and vote on their favorites.  So far we’ve sampled local organic apples in the fall and greens grown in the Lyme School garden in the spring and fall.  The kids loved participating!

• Seedlings the Classroom—In February 2011, Farm to School Coordinator, Rima Nickell, began working with Sixth Grade Science Teacher Skip Pendleton to start spring a little early in the classroom.  The class raised sprouts, which were used as salad toppings in the cafeteria, and will soon embark on starts for the school garden.

• Garden construction, planting, and harvest—in the springs of 2010 and 2011, students in Mr. Pendleton’s 6^th grade science class and Mrs. Cornell’s 5^th grade class helped plant donated greens and sprouts they started in the raised bed in the schoolyard.  In the Spring and Fall the students helped harvest the greens, which were washed and served in the cafeteria that day.  All of the students loved watching the greens grow, and the students who assisted with planting and harvest were very proud to see their produce on the lunch line. Lyme Farm Fresh, the NH Area Health Education Center at TDI, and Lyme School families provided the materials for building and planting the 2010 and 2011 gardens.

• Incorporation of local foods into the cafeteria menu—Since the fall of 2009, Gary Miceli, the school chef, has used local produce and beef in many of his excellent recipes.  Examples of local produce include: tomatoes, apples, corn, carrots, potatoes, cabbage, beets, winter squash, greens, and beef.  Sources of these items include Cedar Circle Farm in Thetford, Vt; Longwind Farm in Thetford, Vt; and Lyme Farm Fresh in Lyme, NH.  Support for local produce in the cafeteria was given by the Lyme Utility Club.

• Apple Fundraiser—In the Fall of 2010, Lyme Farm to School sold nearly 400 lbs of organic Vermont apples to Lyme community members, and raised nearly $300 for the Lyme Farm to School program.  Thanks to all community members who participated in this fundraiser.
• Snack Composting—The Lyme School began composting in the fall of 2010.  The program, led by a team of teachers, and assisted by the students in every classroom, involves the daily collection of snack scraps, which are taken to a composting bin in the schoolyard.  The students assist in adding brown matter, and turning the compost, watching their leftovers become food for the soil.  When ready, the compost will be used on school gardens.  The Lyme Foundation provided support for this program, allowing the school to purchase the compost tumbler and collection bins.  Thanks to the faculty leaders of this effort: Mrs. Skelly, Mrs. Cook and Mrs. Officer.

• Worm Composting—With the assistance of the 2010-2011 Lyme Farm to School Coordinator, Rima Nickell, the students in the Kindergarden and 3^rd grades began composting with worms in the classroom.  The worms, donated by the Lebanon Community Gardens, allow students to learn about natural processes of decomposition—and also about healthy food choices—because worms don’t eat Twinkies!

• A Local Leader—In November, 2010, The Upper Valley Farm to School Network, in conjunction with the Lyme School, held a Farm to Cafeteria forum at the Lyme School.  The forum brought together food service workers to discuss strategies for better incorporation of local foods in school menus, honoring Lyme’s Chef Gary Miceli as a keynote speaker. This program was also conducted by Vermont FEED, and supported by the Wellborn Ecology Fund.

 

THANK YOU to all of those who have helped support the Farm to School Program!