Upper Valley Farm To School Network

Farm to school topics and themes can be incorporated in any lesson for any grade. We are developing examples of FTS lessons from the Upper Valley to share – PLEASE SEND US YOURS, with appropriate credits.

• HARVEST LESSONS
• LEARN BAKE SHARE PROGRAM
  In King Arthur’s FREE Program, kids learn to make bread from scratch. They discover that math, science, reading, and baking know-how add up to delicious bread! Students are then given the ingredients to bake two loves of bread, one to keep and one to donate to a charity of the school’s choice.
• VERMONT FEED has lots of useful curriculum resources

• The VERMONT HARVEST OF THE MONTH materials help you advertise seasonal foods in your cafeteria, and include cafeteria-scale recipes to try.
• FARM TO CAFETERIA ON-LINE GUIDE to find Upper Valley Farms that sell to school cafeterias.
• VERMONT FEED has lots of useful resources on using local food in the cafeteria.

School gardens are used both for teaching and production. There are a wide variety of designs and approaches to school gardens, students can be involved each step of the way.

• FARM TO SCHOOL BOOKS AND OTHER RESOURCES compliled by Danielle Pipher from VERMONT FEED.
• BOOKS AND ONLINE RESOURCES FOR SCHOOL GARDENS.
• FACT SHEET ON COMMUNITY SCHOOL GARDENS developed by the NH Department of Health and Human Services.
• THE VERMONT COMMUNITY GARDEN NETWORK is a great resources for community and school gardens.
• EDIBLE SCHOOLYARD in California has lots of resources based on their experiences.
• LESSONS FROM SCHOOL GARDENS in the Upper Valley.

Composting at schools is good for the environment, can save a school money, fits right in with school gardens, and provides learning opportunities!

• UVFTS 2013 SCHOOL COMPOST TOUR.
• Unfamiliar with compost recipes? THIS SHORT VIDEO from Kitchen Gardener’s International will get you up to speed on the basics.
• The CENTRAL VERMONT SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT created this great curricular resource, DO THE ROT THING.
• Download THETFORD ELEMENTARY’S INSPIRING COMPOST UNIT for 5th grade.
• COMPOSTING IN SCHOOLS website from Cornell University has curriculum and information.
• CEDAR CIRCLE FARM & EDUCATION CENTER hosts home composting workshops that would give excellent background information.

Farm to school programs create wonderful opportunities for connecting local communities and school communities. Harvest dinners, farm days, field trips, and special events bring people together, building relationships and strengthening communities.Farm field trips provide an excellent opportunity for hands-on learning. Different types of farm field trips can fit into the curriculum at any grade level and in any subject. Farm field trips can also help farmers, either by providing an additional source of income, or by providing hands to do needed work. With planning, farm field trips have great potential to benefit teachers, students and farmers. Here are some resources to help you plan a successful farm field trip at your school:

• VT FEED’s A GUIDE FOR CONNECTING FARMS TO SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES has some great information on farm visits.
• CEDAR CIRCLE FARM & EDUCATION CENTER offers an amazing array of CUSTOMIZED FARM FIELD TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES.
• NOFA-VT’S FARMER CORRESPONDENCE PROGRAM is a great way for students to connect with a farm & farmer, and often culminates in a farm field trip that is even more meaningful because it’s based on an existing letter-writing relationship.
• Sharon Elementary School’s third and fourth graders do a Social Studies unit where they visit 4 farms in 2 days. It’s called their Farm Rally, and is the brainchild of Sharon teacher Meg Hopkins. Meg and her colleague Keenan Haley carry the unit out each year.
• Hanover High School students visit farms as part of their annual Earth Day celebration. VIEW AN EARTH DAY SCHEDULE HERE, created by Environmental Science teacher Jeannie Kornfeld, with the HHS Environmental Club.
• VERMONT FARM TO PLATE  gives you access to Vermont’s food system plan, network, goal tracking, and the Vermont Food Atlas.

A little funding can go a long way towards educating students about healthy food and getting fresh products into the cafeteria.

• Start by making a budget, using this FTS BUDGET TEMPLATE.
• VT FEED has compiled a list of FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES SPECIFIC TO FARM TO SCHOOL.
• FARMRAISERS are a farm-based school fundraiser invented right here in the Upper Valley LOOK AT THE TOOLS TODAY.
• FUNDRAISING IDEAS assembled by UVFTS leaders.
• Applying for a grant? Check out UVFTS’ GRANT WRITING TIPS!
• Many local businesses are happy to donate materials or funds for FTS projects.
• Several area schools hold events to raise funds for FTS, such as the Barnard Barnyard Bash, the Hartland Farm and Food Fest, Randolph’s Harvest Dinner, and the Sharon Sprouts’ Farmer’s Markets. These awesome events not only support FTS they raise awareness at the same time!