Farm to School is Thriving in Newbury

“Here in Newbury we’ve had a successful growing summer. We procured a small grant to pay a staff member to tend the gardens over the summer, which promoted a much more successful garden yield this year. The kindergarten and grades 1/2 raised beds have been profusely blooming with zinnias, nasturtiums, cosmos, and calendula. This overflowing rainbow of color will welcome the kids back to school with grandeur! Our 3rd and 4th grade 3-Sisters garden has done well! Students planted some Abenaki corn along with the squash and beans and the sturdy little stalks have ears that are ripening. 5th graders grew an assortment of squashes that will be processed and frozen for cooking/baking projects throughout the year, and our 6th grade class grew a long row of tomatoes in preparation for a big spaghetti supper they hold as a fundraiser in the fall. Finally, we have plans to build at least 6 more raised beds on the school property and have purchased a small, portable greenhouse to try our hand at growing winter greens and herbs. Our fall will end with a big harvest celebration of all of these edibles. Classes will choose dishes to make and share at the celebration. Our new chef is a great addition to our Newbury team and is eager to do all he can to help support the farm-to-school initiatives that we’ve planned. A major goal of our planning grant was to create a sustainable salad bar. The salad bar is up and running and we look forward to figuring out ways to support this healthy change in our school. Farm to School is alive and well at Newbury Elementary School!” – Kim Goody – Newbury Elementary School, Newbury, VT