Maine
Farm to School News
October 2020
10 Spots Left - Register Today
Connect, renew, and strategize our collective farm to school priorities. Join MFSN for a half-day of group work and virtual activities to define the priorities of the Maine Farm to School Network for the coming years.

Forward along this invitation to your farm to school colleagues. Open to all Maine farm to school stakeholders; internet connection required.
Do you think you will need help navigating Zoom and Google applications during this event?

Join MFSN Coordinator on Tuesday Nov. 3, 3:00-4:00 PM on Zoom for an overview of the tools we will use on Nov. 5th.

Can't make this time but still need tech support to participate in this event? Email your questions to the MFSN Coordinator at s.cesario@hccame.org
Reflecting Back to Look Forward: 2019 Maine
Farm to School Conference Resources
Remember when we could gather in person to learn and reinvigorate our farm to school initiatives? There are many ways to continue your learning virtually!


Resources from Minneapolis Schools Culinary & Wellness Services from 2019 Conference Keynote Speaker Bertrand Weber - follow his work here.
Maine Resources for Celebrating:


  • Watch the latest local foods culinary videos and farm videos from Maine Department of Education Child Nutrition with your colleagues.
Check out Falmouth Schools Farmer Justin’s "Nearby Nature" video series. They are available on the Falmouth School Gardens Youtube channel.
Follow along with Chef Mike for his BBQ Chicken or Salmon Wrap recipes!

See Chef Sam's videos for vegetable preparation including carrots, garlic, potato, cauliflower, onion, and more!
National Resources for Celebrating:


  • Sign Up Here to join the weekly National Farm to School Network newsletter

  • Nominate your Community Food Champion - farmers, cafeteria workers, teachers, gardeners, bus drivers, volunteers, and others - who are helping to feed children and families, support local food systems, and going above and beyond in 2020. Nominate them to receive a $500 honorarium and be named a National Farm to School Network Community Food Champion.

This Election Season, #VoteForSchoolFood
Virtual Events
Maine Agriculture in the Classroom (MATIC) is having their annual meeting virtually, please RSVP to Willie Grenier, Executive Director, at maitc@maine.gov if you’d like to attend - October 28th, 3-5pm.

MAITC has a brand new Oyster Farm Tour video available on the Teach ME Food and Farms site - great virtual field trip to learn about aquaculture in Maine!
Watch the recorded livestreams from MOFGA's 2020 Common Ground Country Fair keynote speeches from Soul Fire Farm's Leah Penniman and indgenous food activist Winona LaDuke.

MOFGA's Farmer to Farmer (virtual) conference registration is now open - November 2, 3, 4th in the afternoons.

"Latinx Organizing in Food and Agricultural Systems: Culture, Power, and Change." Join International Organic Inspectors Association, Ceres Trust, and the National Organic Coalition in their Story/Skillshares series around the broad and intersectional themes of Food, Agriculture, Land, and Racial Justice.
Rethinking Curriculum: Celebrate Local Indigenous Foods for Thanksgiving & Indigenous Peoples' Day
The Indigenous NH Harvest Calendar is an educational project by New Hampshire Farm to School in collaboration with the NH Indigenous Collaborative Collective and the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook-Abenaki People. Learn more about the project.

Explore the Fall Harvest Materials and Winter Harvest Materials for recipes, activities, and Indigenous knowledge of seasonal harvests, including preserving foods. Download the posters for classroom or home learning.
Interested in learning more about Farm to School in Indigenous Communities?

including the Abbe Museum's Teaching Native American History in Schools: Tips for Teaching about the Wabanaki
Harvest of the Month Program
October is Maine Apples Month!
November is Maine Brassicas Month!
Share your Harvest of the Month photos & stories on Instagram @hom.maine #mainehom. Contact Robin Kerber at robin.kerber@maine.gov to learn more about participating in Harvest of the Month
Harvest of the Month Curriculum from Maine Ag in the Classroom
Funding Opportunities

  • Projects for public food gardens (including community gardens, school gardens, food bank gardens, etc.) are eligible without geographic boundaries. Deadline is November 12th.
  • Now accepting applications for all grant categories, Deadline is December 14th.

  • Grants of up to $50,000 will be given to facilitate partnerships with community organizations to support joint efforts to ensure kids in their community have access to the federal meals programs, backpack programs, and food pantries. Deadline is October 28th.

  • The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) establishes a Farm to School Program in order to assist eligible entities, through grants and technical assistance, in implementing farm to school programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools. Deadline is January 8, 2021.

  • Funding is available for six priority areas in fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture. Deadlines vary based on program.
Farm to School In the News

A new study shows that SNAP-Ed is working, and may help people in low-income communities eat more foods that prevent diet-related diseases and reduce the devastating impact of COVID-19. (Civil Eats)

Enjoy episodes the transition for virtual farmers markets or the collaboration of farmers and food banks to help families. These stories come from ASAP's Local Food Research Center. (ASAP Connections)