This Week in Farm to School from NC

May 26, 2022

Farm to school connects local agriculture, schools, and partners to benefit students, educators, farmers, families, and communities.

Farm to School Coalition of NC Website Relaunch!

We are excited to share that we have officially re-launched our website! Check back periodically for new resources, events, and news.

Cooking Matters Series

June 1 - July 6, 2o22 // 7 pm EDT

Join the Carolina Hunger Initiative for free online, nutrition, and cooking education lessons! This Cooking Matters series encourages caregivers and their children to prepare healthy meals and snacks together. Lessons will also share ideas on how to help kids eat more fruits and vegetables, and will include live cooking demonstrations. All lessons will be held via Zoom. The Zoom link will be sent to participants after completing the registration form.

Self-Advocacy: Getting What You Need to Thrive

June 8, 2022 // 3 pm EDT

In this workshop with the BIMPOC School Nutrition Leadership Network, participants will spend time digging into what self-advocacy is and how to do it. Participants will also talk to one another about how they have used self-advocacy in the past, what barriers prevent us from speaking up about our needs, and get prepared to use it in the future so we can all thrive!

This workshop is free and open to Black, Indigenous, Multiracial, and People of Color who are working in the school food system.

Funding Your School Food Garden

June 14, 2022 // 4 pm EDT

In this webinar, hosted by Kids Gardening, a panel of garden experts will discuss ways to fundraise. From crowdfunding, to securing donations, learn what makes your program attractive to local supporters. Join to learn how to fundraise and secure donations locally.

Women in Agriculture Conference

August 17 - 18, 2022

The AgrileadHer™ conference is created for every woman who is passionate about agriculture and food, whether you are a university student studying agriculture, producer, entrepreneur, representative of a grower association, or corporate agribusiness. Register for the 2022 virtual conference today and get inspired to make a difference in your career.

The conference is hosted by the University of Georgia, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and the University of Tennessee. Funding was made possible in part by the USDA's Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) grants.

From Farm to Lunch Tray: How Halifax County Schools Is Growing Its Own Food For School Meals

This is the second piece in a three-part series on farm to school in North Carolina. The first piece highlights the Farm to School Coalition of North Carolina.

Read more here.

Green Our Planet's Hydroponics STEM Program Grant Application

Deadline: June 10, 2022

This is an application for Green Our Planet’s Hydroponics STEM Program. The full cost of this program is $10,000. If awarded a grant, Green Our Planet will cover $8,000 of the program cost and your school will be responsible for covering the additional $2,000 needed to fully fund the program. This grant opportunity is open to public and charter schools located in the United States.

Apply here.

Green Our Planet's GardenConnect STEM Program Grant Application

Deadline: June 10, 2022

This is an application for Green Our Planet’s GardenConnect STEM Program. The full cost of this program is $3,500. If awarded a grant, Green Our Planet will cover $2,500 of the program cost and your school will be responsible for covering the additional $1,000 needed to fully fund the program. This grant opportunity is open to public and charter schools located in the United States.

Apply here.

Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program - Produce Prescription Program

Deadline: June 30, 2022

The National Institute for Food and Agriculture's (NIFA) Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program - Produce Prescription Program focuses on projects that improve dietary health through increased consumption of fruits and vegetables; reduce individual and household food insecurity; and reduce healthcare use and associated costs. Submissions for grants have now opened. Applications may only be submitted by government agencies and non-profit organizations; however, award recipients may sub-award to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project.

Apply here.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture Grant

Deadline: July 28, 2022

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Sustainable Agricultural Systems supports approaches that promote transformational changes in the U.S. food and agriculture system. NIFA seeks creative and visionary applications that take a systems approach for projects that are expected to significantly improve the supply of affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible agricultural products while fostering economic development and rural prosperity in America.

Learn more here.

National Farm to School Network State (NFSN) Policy Map

NFSN Partners and state policy advocates are advancing state-level policies that are win for our kids by ensuring nourishing food is served in meals and snacks; a win for farmers by creating school market opportunities that provide reliable and consistent sales and fair pay; and a win for our communities by creating conditions for school food to be grown, distributed, prepared and consumed in ways that benefit everyone along the way. Interact with the map below to see what's happening in your state or territory during the current legislative session.

View the map here.

Racial Justice in Education

Racial justice is the systematic fair treatment of people of all races, resulting in equitable opportunities and outcomes for all. Racial justice — or racial equity — goes beyond “anti-racism.” It is not just the absence of discrimination and inequities, but also the presence of deliberate systems and supports to achieve and sustain racial equity through proactive and preventative measures.

Read here.

How to Talk to Kids About Race

In a new episode of Home School, The Atlantic’s animated series about parenting, Tisby offers advice on how to have a conversation with children about race, from experiential learning to watching classic animated films.

Watch here.

Reframing History Toolkit

Welcome to “Reframing History,” a communications toolkit for historians, museum professionals, educators, and other advocates. It’s designed to facilitate more effective communication with the public about history: why it matters, how it can be interpreted, and why it is important to incorporate critical thinking and a multitude of diverse perspectives in the ways we understand it.