Local Foods and School News from
Healthy Communities of the Capital Area
 Winter 2014
   
In This Issue
RSU 38 Passes Model Tobacco Policy
FoodCorps & Farm to School
RSU 2 Campuses Available for Physical Activity
Community Food Councils
Maranacook Education Foundation Supports Farm to School
Sustainable Food Systems Leadership Institute
New Tool to Update School Substance Use Policies
Need Help Bringing Your School's Wellness Policy Into Compliance?
What's Renee Reading?
Upcoming Events

Capital Area Food Council

December 18, 2014 5:30-7:00pm

Monthly meeting. Location: HCCA 36 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner

FMI: Karen Stevenson at capitalareafood@gmail.com

 

Maine Association of Nonprofits Sustainable Food Systems Leadership Institute

2015 Enrollment Open FMI:

 

Slow Money Maine

January 15, 2015 1:00-4:00pm Bimonthly meeting. Location: Christ Church 2 Dresden Avenue, Gardiner

 

TIME Prioritization Event

Time to Increase Meaningful Engagement is wrapping up a year-long planning process with a prioritization event on January 14, 2015 7:30am-12:00pm at the Cohen Community Center in Hallowell. The group identified four pervasive issues influencing health in the 8 Kennebec River communities from Augusta to Richmond. They are:

  • Food insecurity/healthy food access
  • Substance abuse
  • Housing
  • Living wage

The event will identify which one of these priorities will be selected to be addressed over the next four years. If you are interested in being part of the event, contact Joanne Joy at j.joy@hccame.org or 207.588.5011.

 

SNAP-Ed Cooking Matters at the Store Tours

Look for store tour events coming to local Hannaford locations in the new year. To arrange a tour for your SNAP-eligible group, contact Karen Tucker at 207.588.5012 or ktucker@mcd.org

Local Farmers' Markets

Kennebec County  

Augusta

Farmers' Market at Mill Park

1 North Water Street, the old Edwards Mill site

May-November

Tuesdays 2-6pm

December-April

Tuesdays 12:30-2:00pm

EBT, WIC, Credit & Debit Accepted

http://www.mainefarmersmarkets.org/market/augusta-farmers-market-at-mill-park/ 

 

Other Options:

Crown o' Maine Organic Cooperative, for worksites looking to create their own mini farmers' market, buying clubs may be just what you need. To learn more visit

 

KLFI Online Marketplace, an online ordering system that allows shoppers to purchase a large variety of foods from Maine producers, in cooperation with the Gardiner Farmers' Market, Crown O' Maine Organic Cooperative, and local vendors. To get a username and password, please call 207.712.9734 or email klfi@gardinerfarmersmarket.org. To learn more visit www.klfi.buyingclubsoftware.org or klfi.org.

 

Maranacook Area Farmers' Market, an online farmers' market that allows buyers to place orders online from local growers. Visit http://harvesttomarket.com/farmers-market/Maranacook-Area-Farmers-Market

 

Somerset County

 

Skowhegan

Skowhegan Farmers' Market

Somerset Grist Mill

May-October

Saturdays 9:00am-1:00pm

June-October

Wednesdays 3:00pm-6:00pm

Saturdays 9:00am-1:00pm

November-April

1st & 3rd Saturdays 10:00am-1:00pm

EBT, WIC, Debit & Credit Accepted

www.skowheganfarmersmarket.com

Links to Useful Resources
National Farm to School Network
F2SN enables every child to have access to nutritious food while simultaneously benefiting communities and local farmers.
FMI & Resources: farmtoschool.org

Maine Ag in the Classroom
MAITC provides information about agricultural concepts to teachers, students, and interested citizens.
FMI & Resources:

Maine School Garden Network
MSGN promotes and supports educational gardens for youth and encourages school programs that teach healthy eating and environmental stewardship.
FMI & Resources: www.msgn.org

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for a Livable Future Food Policy Networks
Food policy council database and resources.
FMI & Resources: 

HCCA Board of Directors

Mary Frances Bartlett
Local Health Officer, City of Augusta, Maine

Dan Emery
Maine State Credit Union, Augusta, Maine

Rob Gordon, Treasurer
United Way of Kennebec Valley, Augusta, Maine

Virgel Hammonds
Superintendent, RSU2, Hallowell, Maine

Kala Ladenheim, Secretary
Medical Care Development, Augusta, Maine

Jane O'Rourke
Alzheimer's Care Center & FMI, Hallowell, Maine

Barbara Moss, DO
Maine Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency & Family Medicine Institute, Augusta, Maine 
 

Emilie van Eeghen
MaineGeneral Community Care, Waterville, Maine

Tom Warren
Executive Director and CEO of the Kennebec Valley YMCA, Augusta, Maine

Frederick A. White, Ph.D
Private practice psychologist, Augusta, Maine

Jim Wood, Chair
KVCAP, Waterville, Maine


Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List

Like us on Facebook

Winter 2014


You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed or have been identified as a leader in your school or community around local foods and/or youth efforts.

I welcome any and all feedback on this newsletter's format and content and encourage others to submit local foods and youth articles, news, resources, and success stories that may be of interest or useful to others.

Please forward this newsletter to others as appropriate and encourage them to subscribe. You may unsubscribe at any time you feel this newsletter is not germane to your work or interests.

Again, welcome. I hope you enjoy!

Renee Page,
HCCA Local Foods Projects & Roles:
Central District Maine Farm to School Network Representative
National Farm to School Network Regional Steering Committee, Maine Co-Lead
FoodCorps Service Site Supervisor
USDA Farm to School Grantee
Capital Area Food Council, Convener & Sponsor
Winthrop Food & Ag Group, Sponsor
Maine Network of Community Food Councils, Member
SNAP-Ed Provider
  
RSU 38 Maranacook Area Schools Improves Tobacco Policy
Healthy Communities of the Capital Area is a Resource for Schools Looking to Improve Tobacco Policies

Maranacook Community High School
New Partnership for a Tobacco Free Maine signage at all RSU 38 schools
HCCA, in collaboration with RSU 38's School Health Leadership Council, worked to improve the district's tobacco use policy. Maine state law prohibits tobacco use on school grounds at all times, but a model tobacco policy goes beyond this prohibition to include:
  • Prohibition of tobacco advertising in school buildings, at school functions, in school publications, and on clothing worn to school or at school sponsored activities
  • Stepwise enforcement procedure that addresses violations by students, staff, and community members
  • Written communication procedure that reaches students, staff, and community members
The RSU received FREE Partnership for a Tobacco Free Maine campus signage upon implementing the policy. Healthy Communities of the Capital Area and Healthy Maine Partnerships across the state are a resource for schools looking to improve tobacco polices. Contact Renee Page at rpage@mcd.org for more information and to find out how your school can obtain campus signage.

PTM School Policy Guide
Click on the image to view Partnership for a Tobacco Free Maine School Policy Guide




FoodCorps and Farm to School Happenings
HCCA's FoodCorps Service Member Caroline Moore Introduces Students to New Flavors    
FoodCorps ME

Students in MSAD 11 Gardiner Area Schools are trying new foods during lunch. Recently, students at Gardiner Area High School and Gardiner Regional Middle School had the opportunity to taste test kale chips; 72% of high school students thought they were "Really Good!"  Students in the district's elementary schools tasted roasted garbanzo beans, with many enjoying them as "croutons" atop salads. Here is what some of the students had to say.

Pittston students on garbanzo beans:
  • "This is the first time I've tried beans and liked them!" 
  • "I would give it 100 stars!"
Gardiner Area High School students on kale chips:
  • "Kale? I love kale!" 
  • "It's like a chip."
  • "I always liked the kale." 
  • "They're back!" 
  • "Didn't we have these last year?" 
  • "Why'd they get rid of them?"
  • "You guys are wimps, it's not that bad!"

FoodCorps at Gardiner Regional Middle School

The Cook! Plant! Grow! after school club is off to a great start at Gardiner Regional Middle School. After putting the gardens to bed for the season, students are focusing on developing their cooking skills and trying out different recipes to determine 

what to grow in the spring. Students are learning safe knife skills and how to read and follow a recipe by making fresh tomato salsa.

 

Seventh grade math students at Gardiner Regional Middle School are starting a catering project to culminate their studies of fractions and decimals. To kick off the 

Caroline Moore

project, FoodCorps Service Member Caroline Moore led a lesson on nutrition. Using their understanding of fractions, decimals, percentages, and proportions, students developed a trail mix recipe and calculated its nutritional value. http://www.msad11.org/node/5291  


 

FoodCorps at Cony
Students in Joan Savage's Cony 7th Grade Life Science class are working on informational posters highlighting the biological importance of various vitamins and minerals. These posters will be hung in the school cafeteria as a reminder to all students to eat a variety of healthy foods.


 

In collaboration with Cony Health teacher Brenda Weis and HCCA's SNAP-Ed Coordinator Jacqui Stevens, Cony will be offering Cooking Matters for Teens in January, providing Cony students an opportunity to learn cooking skills and food safety.  

 

~ submitted by Caroline Moore
 

If you are interested in supporting FoodCorps efforts in Augusta, Gardiner, and Maranacook area schools through material or cash donations, or by volunteering at a site, please contact Renee Page at rpage@mcd.org.

RSU 2 Facilities Available for Physical Activity by Community Members
HCCA Partners with RSU 2 to Promote Physical Activity
RSU 2 Campus Signage
RSU 2 Campus Signage

Healthy Communities of the Capital Area collaborated with the RSU 2 Wellness Team to promote school facility use for physical activity by community members. Community members may access outdoor school facilities (playgrounds, tracks, tennis courts, etc.) anytime outside of the school day and not in conflict with school events. For indoor use, contact building principals. Look for these welcome signs throughout the RSU in recognizable school colors. Remember, all Maine school campuses are tobacco free at all times.

RSU 2 Schools: Dresden, Hall-Dale, Monmouth, Richmond
Community Food Councils
Capital Area Food Council Raising Awareness About the Local Food System
  
The Capital Area Food Council is working to engage community members in prioritizing efforts to improve the local food system. Upcoming events include a farm tour of Crescent Run Farm in Gardiner, a book discussion of The Town that Food Saved by Ben Hewitt, and work toward addressing the emerging issue of composting by local institutions, municipalities, and individuals. Capital Area Food Council Coordinator, Karen Stevenson, will be speaking at Slow Money Maine on January 15, 2015 at Christ Church in Gardiner to share the group's accomplishments to date and provide an overview of where the Council is headed. If you you would like to be involved and receive communications from CAFC, contact Karen at capitalareafood@gmail.com. Find CAFC on Facebook.

Capital Area Food Council Mission: To affect positive change in the local food system.
Capital Area Food Council Vision: A food system that nurtures our bodies, our community, the local economy, and the earth.

Community Food Councils work to influence the local food system and can prioritize a range of activities from policy development to food security issues to specific food related projects. Once a need is identified, the group works collectively to address it. If you are interested in joining the Capital Area Food Council or forming a community food council in your area, please contact Karen Stevenson at capitalareafood@gmail.com.
Growing Our Lunch at RSU 38 Maranacook Area Schools
FoodCorps in collaboration with RSU 38 Food Service receives support for student engagement project.
 
MEF logo

The Maranacook Education Foundation awarded $750 for RSU 38 elementary school students to start seedlings in a hands-on project to help them understand from where their food comes. This project will support ongoing Farm to School initiatives happening in RSU 38 in collaboration with HCCA. In the spring, with assistance from high school students and FoodCorps Service Member Caroline Moore, the seedlings will be transplanted into the existing garden at Maranacook Community High School and the resulting produce will be used in school meals and cafeteria taste tests. This project will provide numerous educational opportunities at the elementary level and support student well being through increasing local food availability in the cafeteria while building community among the numerous schools in the district. This interaction will provide the opportunity for high school students to serve as role models and leaders for elementary students. The reach of this project is wide; all students in the district will benefit from the increase in local produce available for school meals. To learn more about the project or how you can help support it, contact Caroline Moore at caroline.moore@foodcorps.org.

~ submitted by Caroline Moore
Renee Page Completes Maine Association of Nonprofits Sustainable Food Systems Leadership Institute
MANP logo
 
Renee Page was
a member of the 5th cohort to complete Maine Association of Nonprofit's Sustainable Food Systems Leadership Institute (SFSLI). 

This year-long institute is designed for leaders from across Maine with common interests in helping to create a food system in Maine that is local, strong, sustainable, just, and healthy for all.

Program Format & Goals

The SFSLI curriculum seeks to strengthen Maine's local food movement by offering participants a variety of learning opportunities that focus on core competencies of:

  • Network Development
    Building the network of people and organizations working on this issue
  • Leadership Development
    Building leadership capacity (individual, organizational, and network/movement)
  • Movement Building
    Building the knowledge base and core competencies related to strengthening the food movement
The program is offered through day-long, in-person gatherings that strive to be interactive and content-rich, with plenty of time for participants to learn, teach, connect, inspire, and grow from one another. Alumni from the program remain part of the SFSLI network and are resources for current participants.

 

Enrollment for 2015 Session is Now Open

 

Learn More at: http://www.nonprofitmaine.org/learn/learning-intensives/sustainable-food-systems-leadership-institute/

HCCA Can Help You Update Your School Substance Use Policy
New Substance Use Policy Guide Available
SAMHS Policy Guide
SAMHS School Substance Use Policy Guide

Maine Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services updated its School Substance Use Policy Guide and Healthy Maine Partnership staff across the state are available to help schools update their substance use policies. Effective substance use policies are an essential part of creating a healthy, safe school environment for students, staff, and communities.

Key Components of a Model Policy:
  • Philosophy Statement
  • Community Involvement
  • Communication of Policy
  • Prevention Education
  • Prohibitions
  • Enforcement
  • Consequences
  • Intervention & Treatment
  • Review & Revision

It is recommended that schools review and revise their policies at least once every two years. FMI: Contact Renee Page at rpage@mcd.org. 

HHFKA Brings New School Wellness Policy Criteria
HCCA can help you make sure your school's local wellness policy complies with the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010

In an effort to help combat childhood obesity, the 2004 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act required all schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program to convene a team of stakeholders to put in place a Local Wellness Policy that defines goals for:
  • nutrition education
  • physical activity
  • other wellness activities
  • nutrition guidelines for all foods available on campus

The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 takes wellness policy requirements a step further by requiring: 

  • building level implementation plans
  • policy communication plan
  • goals for nutrition promotion
  • policy enforcement & compliance plan
Contact Renee Page at rpage@mcd.org for help navigating the requirements to bring your district's policy up to date.
What's Renee
Reading?
The Town that Food Saved
How One Community Found Vitality in Local Food by Ben Hewitt
  
TownFoodSaved
The Town that Food Saved: How One Community Found Vitality in Local Food



This look at how a small Vermont community took a grassroots approach to changing their local food system is the selected reading for the Capital Area Food Council's book discussion. It's not too late the join the group and the discussion. Contact Karen Stevenson at capitalareafood@gmail.com to find out how to get a copy of the book and join the discussion.
I hope you enjoyed learning more about local food and school happenings in southern Kennebec County. Please contact me if you are interested in learning more or becoming involved.
  
In Health,
  

Renee Page,
Assistant Director, Healthy Communities of the Capital Area

Central District Maine Farm to School Network Representative 

National Farm to School Network Regional Steering Committee, State Co-Lead

FoodCorps Service Site Supervisor

USDA Farm to School Grantee


Healthy Communities of the Capital Area (HCCA) is a coalition of local people who work locally to improve the health and quality of life in our communities. HCCA hosts the Central District Maine Farm to School Network Representative and a FoodCorps Service Member. HCCA is a USDA Farm to School, Maine Ag in the Classroom, and Maine Network of Community Food Councils grantee.

HCCA is one of 27 local Healthy Maine Partnerships and receives funds from the Fund for a Healthy Maine.

HCCA's mission is to convene people, organizations, and communities to collaborate on quality of life and public health issues.

HCCA serves the southern Kennebec County towns of Augusta, Chelsea, Farmingdale, Fayette, Gardiner, Hallowell, Litchfield, Manchester, Monmouth, Mount Vernon, Pittston, Randolph, Readfield, Vienna, West Gardiner, Wayne, Windsor, Winthrop, and Richmond in Sagadahoc County. 
 local healthy maine partnership logo MF2SN