Local Foods and School News from
Healthy Communities of the Capital Area
Spring 2016
|
|
Upcoming Events
|
|
Capital Area Food Council 2016 Meetings
April 14 4:30-6:00pm
May 12 9:00-10:30am
June 9 4:30-6:00pm
Location: HCCA 36 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner
Register Now
Maine Nutrition Council Annual Conference
Friday, April 8 at Kennebec Valley Community College Alfond Campus, Hinckley, ME
Slow Money Maine
Third Thursdays Odd Months 1:00-4:00pm
Location: Christ Church 2 Dresden Avenue, Gardiner
SNAP-Ed Cooking Matters at the Store Tours
Look for store tour events coming to local Hannaford locations.
Upcoming Events:
Wednesday April 27, 2016 3:00-5:30
Winthrop Hannaford
To arrange a tour for your SNAP-eligible group, contact Emily Knipp
at 207.588.5081 or
eknipp@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/ Viles Arboretum Farmers' Market 153 Hospital Street Year round Fridays 2:00-5:00pm 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
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
NFSN 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.
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
Augusta, ME
Rob Gordon
Kennebec Valley United Way
Augusta, ME
Virgel Hammonds
West Gardiner, ME
Kala Ladenheim, Secretary
Gardiner, ME
Barbara Moss, DO
Maine Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency
Family Medicine Institute
Augusta, ME
Emilie van Eeghen, Vice Chair
MaineGeneral Community Care
Waterville, ME
Tom Warren, Treasurer
Kennebec Valley YMCA
Augusta, ME
Frederick A. White, PhD
Private practice psychologist
Augusta, ME
Jim Wood, Chair
KVCAP
Waterville, ME
|
| Join Our List |
 |
|
|
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.
Please provide 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.
Help spread the word! Feel free to lift articles from this newsletter for your own newsletters, facebook pages, and other communications.
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.
Enjoy!
Renee Page
HCCA Local Foods Projects & Roles:
- Maine Farm to School Network, Coordinator
- National Farm to School Network Northeast Regional Steering Committee, Maine State Lead
- Maine Farm to Institution Leadership Team, Coordinator
- Reducing Food Waste & Increasing Access to Fresh, Local Foods in Southern Kennebec County, Project Coordinator
- FoodCorps Service Site, Supervisor
- Capital Area Food Council, Convener & Sponsor
- Maine Network of Community Food Councils, Member
- SNAP-Ed Provider
- Former USDA Farm to School Grantee
|
| Andrews Farm Wants Your Input |
|
| Take this 5 question survey with a chance to win a $50 gift certificate
Andrews Farm is a certified organic vegetable and fruit farm in Gardiner, ME that would love to be your farm! In 2016-2017 they will offer a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share program that will coincide with the local school year calendar. Their intention is to provide families in the capital area with a steady supply of fresh, healthy produce at a time of year when quality local food can be less accessible and affordable. Please click on the link to answer 5 questions to help Andrews Farm evaluate the potential of this new offering and to enter to win a $50 gift certificate for their produce!
|
| Reducing Food Waste & Increasing Access to Fresh, Local Foods |
|
|
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation provides support for sanitation training
With support from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation, Healthy Communities of the Capital Area is collaborating with the Kennebec Sheriff's Office
Kennebec Restorative Community Harvest to Reduce Food Waste and Increase Access to Fresh, Local Foods in Southern Kennebec County.
Part of the endeavor involves minimal processing of fresh, local produce to increase shelf life and minimize spoilage during distribution.
Project members Jeff Bridges (RSU #38 School Nutrition Director), Steve Knight (Central Maine Gleaners Group), Renee Page (Healthy Communities of the Capital Area), and Penny Weibel (RSU #38 School Nutrition Program) attended a daylong Food Safety and Sanitation training offered by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and led by Dr. Jason Bolton. Participation in the training will help ensure food safety guidelines are met during food processing and distribution.
For more in
formation about the project, contact Project Coordinator Rene
e Page
rpage@mcd.org
207.588.5020
|
| We need your help! Please Support FoodCorps |
|
HCCA embarks on 6th year of FoodCorps Programming
HCCA is an original FoodCorps Service Site that has been home to Service Members Laura Budde, Lily Joslin, Andrea Snow, Caroline Moore, and Jada Wensman who have served tirelessly in Augusta, Gardiner, and Maranacook School Districts teaching hands-on agricultural-based nutrition education, building and tending school gardens, and working with school nutrition programs to source more fresh, local foods for school meals in an effort to teach food origins, healthy food choices, and cooking and gardening skills.
FoodCorps programming comes at no cost to the schools but as a FoodCorps Service Site, HCCA is obligated to provide a monetary match to FoodCorps, along with indirect service member support such as supervision, office space, computer, and travel reimbursement. At an annual obligation of approximately $10,000, this is a bargain for sure!
HCCA is grateful to all of the community and philanthropic support received over the years to keep FoodCorps going locally. This year the need is a bit more as longstanding revenue sources are no longer available and the match obligation is increasing.
HCCA is asking for your support in keeping FoodCorps in the Capital Area going. Please make a donation today.
Contact Renee Page, FoodCorps Service Sit
e Supe
rvisor, to learn more about FoodCorps programming and how you can provide support.
|
| Maine Agriculture Trades Show |
|
Maine Farm to Institution Team Members Present at Maine Ag Trades Show
 |
|
|
L to R: Ron Adams, Sheila Costello, Renee Page, Riley Neugebauer
|
Healthy Communities of the Capital Area is home to the emerging Maine Farm to Institution (MEFTI) project. MEFTI Leadership Team Members Ron Adams (Maine Farm & Sea Cooperative), Renee Page (HCCA), and Riley Neugebauer (Farm to Institution New England), along with Sheila Costello (Waldo County Hospital Nutrition Director) presented to beginning farmers about opportunities and challenges of selling to institutional markets.
To learn more about MEFTI, contact Renee Page at
rpage@mcd.org 207.588.5020
|
| FoodCorps at HCCA Awarded SeedMoney Grant |
|
SeedMoney to support Growing Our Lunch at the Maranacook Community High School Garden
Thank you to all who contributed to this online fundraising effort. The competition was stiff. HCCA was one of 50 winning projects among 450 competitors. The money raised will support the Growing Our Lunch project in RSU #38 Maranacook Schools where elementary students will work high school students to start seedlings that will be transferred to the high school garden and later harvested and used in school meals.
|
| It's Spring! Time to Think About Safe Routes to School |
|
Lots of resources available from Safe Routes to School
Start planning now for
National Bike to School Day on May 4, 2016.
- Map your routes
- Conduct safety education and bike checks in advance
- Reach out to the Maine Safe Routes to School team for no cost, certified bicycle and pedestrian education
- Access event promotional materials
|
| SNAP-Ed at T.C. Hamlin School |
|
Visit HCCA's
website to learn more about SNAP-Ed in the Capital Area
|
|
|
HCCA's SNAP-Ed Coordinator, Rachael Reynolds teaching a nutrition lesson to 4-year-olds at T.C. Hamlin School
|
|
|
|
|
Taste testing strawberries and bananas
|
|
|
| RSU #38 Facilities Available for Physical Activity by Community Members |
|
HCCA partners with Maranacook Schools to promote physical activity
|
|
|
RSU #38 Campus Signage |
Healthy Communities of the Capital Area collaborated with RSU #38 to promote school facility use for physical activity by community members. Community members may access outdoor school facilities 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.
|
| Free Safety Signs Available from MaineDOT |
|
|
|
|
Post-Mounted Dynamic Speed Feedback Sign |
The Maine Department of Transportation is offering free
Post-Mounted Dynamic Speed Feedback Signs to Maine towns. Priority will be given to rural village areas located on higher speed roadways.
|
|
|
| Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon |
|
MaineDOT also has Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons available at no cost. Municipalities are responsible for installation (no wiring required) and maintenance.
FMI or to Apply:
207.624.3632
|
| HCCA Can Help You Update Your School's Substance Use, Tobacco, or Wellness Policy |
|
Substance Use Policy Guide Available
|
|
|
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
Free Campus Signage from Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine
|
|
| Free Tobacco-Free Campus signage from PTM |
Healthy Communities of the Capital Area is your school's resource for technical assistance, model policy language, and free Tobacco Free Campus signage. Join other school districts across that state that have enhanced their tobacco policy language to meet model policy guidelines that address tobacco use prevention, alternatives to suspension, new and emerging tobacco products like e-cigarettes, and more.
Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act School Wellness Policy Requirements
In an effort to help combat childhood obesity, all schools that participate in the National School Lunch and/or Breakfast Programs must have a local wellness policy in place. But did you know there are new requirements for those policies related to policy content, communication, and implementation? Contact HCCA for technical assistance, model policy language, and resources.
It is recommended that schools review and revise their policies at least once every two years. FMI: Contact Renee Page at rpage@mcd.org.
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
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 a FoodCorps Service Member and is home to the Maine Farm to School Network and Maine Farm to Insitution. HCCA is a former USDA Farm to School and current Maine Ag in the Classroom, Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation, and Maine Network of Community Food Councils grantee.
Maine SNAP-Ed is funded by the USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which is administered by the Maine Department of Health and Human Serves (DHHS) and implemented through a contract with the University of New England (UNE). Utilizing the Healthy Maine Partnership agencies statewide as access points for SNAP-Ed delivery, we strive to educate Maine SNAP recipients on low-cost, healthy eating and active lifestyles.
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. |
|
|
