Vermont FEED is a farm to school partnership project of NOFA-VT and Shelburne Farms
Northeast Farm to School
Institute & Learning Community Applications OPEN
We've adapted our Farm to School Institute model to the virtual learning experience! If you're in New England or New York, we encourage preK-12 and early childhood teams to join us in this unique, year-long professional development opportunity to integrate food, farm, and nutrition programs into your school community with the support of an entire network.
Applications due March 31.
Support for Your Farm to School &
Early Childhood Program
Applications are open for he Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets' Farm to School Child Nutrition Implementation grant. The grant offers financial and technical assistance to help integrate the classroom, community, and cafeteria. Grants target schools and early childhood providers looking to build on established programs.
Applications due March 19, 12:00PM.
Hop on the Farm to School Bus:
Support Critical Nutrition for Our Kids & More Purchasing from Our Farmers!
We're advocating for the Vermont Farm Fresh School Meals for All bill (S.100) that would ensure that all Vermont school children had access to universal breakfast and lunch at no charge, would help schools to purchase more Vermont products for their school meals, and would fully fund the Farm to School and Early Childhood grant program.
Jr Iron Chef VT Cooking Club
Calling all Vermont teen chefs: Join the Jr Iron Chef VT Cooking Club! Our monthly cooking challenge is a fun way to bring our community together while honoring the core values of Jr Iron Chef VT. March's Recipe Challenge Sweet Potato-Chickpea Burgers made by Green Mountain Union High School! (Read more about the program in Seven Days' recent article, too.)
Resources
Deepening Farm to School Connections
Vermont FEED's new project case study to help school communities expand the traditional farm to school model by creating a robust, year-long framework to strengthen the relationship between local farms and schools. Six farm partners and six fourth grade teachers from rural Vermont schools dedicated two years to build meaningful connections for their students and teachers between food and their community farms. Read more.

A Coaching Guide for Farm to School Action Planning
If you are a new or returning coach in the Farm to School Institute, this guide will help you to navigate the coaching process, access tools and techniques, and understand the impact of coaching for developing robust and long lasting integrated farm to school programs. Get the guide.

Vermont Farm to School Network's
2021 Webinar Series for Educators
The goal of the ongoing webinar series is to support teachers in implementing food systems, nutrition education, and hands-on learning opportunities into their curriculum. Topics include food justice, trauma informed practices, student engagement, school gardening, and cooking. Find the calendar or upcoming webinars (some have a waitlist) and the recordings.

Common Roots' Farm to School Episode 2: Acorn Squash
With gratitude for the Abenaki agricultural traditions, Common Roots share their second video about squash. Journey with Farmer Fae into the fall harvest on the farm, discover the Seven Sisters, and enjoy a culinary lesson with Abenaki chef Jessee Lawyer. Watch the video.

Celebrating Our Roots: Amplifying Who We Are
Fourth grade teacher Aziza Malik, one of our teacher alumni, organized a collaborative recipe book project to include and reflect her school's diverse community. Read more & get the cookbook.
Upcoming Programs & Events
Vermont Farm to School Network's Webinar Series for Educators:
All recordings will be available to view shortly after the live webinar
March 31: Student Engagement & Youth Voice (waitlist)
May 12: School Food 101

Important Farm to School Institute Dates
March 1: Applications due
August 16–17: Virtual Kickoff Retreat

Farm to Early Childhood: Strengthening Education & Fighting Hunger
Educators Cynthia Greene and Jed Norris and share about their work supporting educators in bringing food, health, and agriculture learning into early childhood classrooms and the big impact it is making.
Strengthening Farm to School with Community Partnerships & Youth Voice
The High School for Environmental Studies and 1Freedom have created incredible programming to elevate and engage students as partners in real world Farm to School projects. We asked them how.
Farm to School Update:
Rick Scharf, Milton High School
Learn about how Milton High School Educator Rick Sharf is integrating food systems and Farm to School into his curriculum and work with students. He inspires us to continue to think about how food systems can be the core of our curriculum and connect deeply to content, place, and current events.
Follow Vermont FEED to get farm to school news and
Jr Iron Chef VT 2020 updates. Share your Jr Iron Chef VT and Northeast Farm to School Institute stories with #JrIRONCHEFVT & #NEFTSI