Upcoming Events
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NESAWG 2015 It Takes a Region Conference
Putting the MOVE in Movement
November 13-14, 2015
Saratoga Spring, NY
Civil rights, labor, women's rights-the movements that transformed our world can give us insight on ways to accelerate food systems change. What can we learn from leaders past and present? How can we better organize our work, our networks, our message, our media? At this year's Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group's conference, learn and strategize with farm and food systems practitioners across the region-from farmers to researchers to policymakers-as we work to build a movement and realize the change we want to see.
Maine Network of Community Food Councils 3rd Annual Summit
November 20, 2015
Kennebec Valley Community College Alfond Campus
FMI & Registration:
Green Schools Conference & Expo
March 31-April 1, 2016
Pittsburgh, PA
This event brings together green schools thought-leaders and champions, connecting educators, school administrators, non-profit and corporate partners, and elected officials to advance the shared mission of green schools for all within this generation. Do you believe that all students deserve to learn and play in environments that are healthy, safe, and resource-efficient? Are you looking for new ideas to start or expand your school's sustainability goals?
8th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference Save the Date
June 1-4, 2016
Madison, WI
The National Farm to Cafeteria Conference is a biennial event that convenes a diverse group of stakeholders from across the farm to cafeteria movement who are working to source local food for institutional cafeterias and foster a culture of food and agricultural literacy across America. The conference is hosted by the National Farm to School Network, in partnership with local host organizations.
Work shop and poster session proposals due December 4, 2015. Registration opens February 15, 2016. FMI: here
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| MFSN Contacts |
| State Coordinator: Renee Page Healthy Communities of the Capital Area rpage@mcd.org 207.588.5020
Aroostook District: John Chartier
Aroostook County Healthy Aroostook
jchartier@mofga.org 207.521.1200
Central District: Kelly LaCasse
Kennebec & Somerset Counties Maine Academy of Natural Sciences at Good Will-Hinckley
Cumberland District: Ron Adams
Cumberland County
Local Foods Consultant
DownEast District: Katie Freedman
Hancock & Washington Counties
Healthy Acadia
katie@healthyacadia.org
207.288.5331
MidCoast District: Heather Burt
Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc & Waldo Counties
Penquis District: Bonnie Young
Penobscot & Piscataquis Counties
207.745.4797
Western District: Laura Quynn
Androscoggin, Franklin, & Oxford Counties
Healthy Community Coalition of Greater Franklin County
207.779.2828
York District: Kristine Jenkins
York County
Partners for a Hunger-Free York County
207.409.9193 State Co-Lead to National Farm to School Network Northeast Regional Steering Committee: Ellie Libby University of Maine Cooperative Extension ellen.libby@maine.edu 207.832.0343 State Co-Lead to National Farm to School Network Northeast Regional Steering Committee: Renee Page Healthy Communities of the Capital Area rpage@mcd.org 207.588.5020 USDA Farm to School Northeast Regional Lead: Danielle Fleury danielle.fleury@fns.usda.gov 617.565.1604 |
Links to Useful Resources
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National Farm to School Network
NFSN enables every child to have access to nutritious food while simultaneously benefiting communities and local farmers.
USDA Farm to School
Resources to support local farm to school programs.
Maine Ag in the Classroom
MAITC provides information about agricultural concepts to teachers, students, and interested citizens.
Maine School Garden Network
MSGN promotes and supports educational gardens for youth and encourages school programs that teach healthy eating and environmental stewardship.
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| Employment Opportunities |
Representative Chellie Pingree Seeks Legislative Assistant
Progressive Maine Democratic Congresswoman Chellie Pingree seeks an experienced and proactive legislative
assistant to handle her sustainable agriculture legislative portfolio and other legislative issues in her Washington D.C. office. Congresswoman Pingree is a national leader on local food and sustainable agriculture issues and the ideal candidate should have strong connections in these issue areas. Excellent writing and analytical skills, a proven record of generating and advancing legislative ideas, and a demonstrated ability to work with other offices and committees to advance the member's agenda are important. Experience on Capitol Hill either in a Member office/committee or as an outside advocate is desired. The legislative assistant will be responsible for developing initiatives, tracking legislation, drafting correspondence and floor statements, and representing the Member in meetings and working closely with the district staff on outreach opportunities.
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| Join Our List |
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Here are this month's Maine Farm to School updates. Included are save the dates, funding opportunities, and more. Please share this monthly update with others and encourage them to subscribe to this newsletter. Also be sure to let us know what's happening in your area related to Farm and Boat to School.
Renee Page,
Maine Farm to School Network Coordinator
Contact Information:
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| Farm to School Indicators |
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Let Us Know What's Happening
Each month we compile all the exciting things that are happening in Farm to School across Maine. This data collection is critically important in helping us evaluate the impact of Farm to School activities. We really appreciate your time and effort in telling us about anything you did in
October
related to the following:
- Information, resources, and materials developed by you and others.
- Conferences, convenings, and trainings you've participated in.
- Contact with policymakers and other decision makers.
- Local or state policy and administrative initiatives.
- Key Farm to School or Farm to Preschool initiatives.
- Key Farm to School or Farm to Preschool pieces.
Each month we will be collecting this information, so please send things my way as they happen. Thank you to those of you who have already sent along your contributions!
Renee Page,
National Farm to School Network Northeast Regional Steering Committee Maine State Co-Lead
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| Maine Farm to School Conference a Success! |
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Maine Farm to School Conference
This year's Maine Farm to School Conference held on the beautiful Kennebec Valley Community College Alfond Campus was a huge success! This 4th annual conference was the most well attended to date and featured more than 20 work shop sessions showcasing Maine Farm to School success stories and practical examples for implementation. Participants learned skills for procuring and preparing local foods in school meals; new strategies for school gardens and classrooms; connected with local, state, and national policymakers; enjoyed great local food; and much much more!
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| Policy Panel Discussion in KVCC Lecture Hall |
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| Hands-on Grains Work Shop |
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| Slaw for lunch-prepared by conference participants |
Thank you to conference sponsors for making this day possible.
Kennebec Valley Community College
Maine Ag in Classroom
Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, & Forestry
Elmina B. Sewall Foundation
Johnny's Seeds
Maine Farmland Trust
Farm to Institution New England
Maine Dairy & Nutrition Council
Maine Network of Community Food Councils
Healthy Communities of the Capital Area
Maine School Garden Network
PJ Merrill Seafood
Carford Orchards
Maine Grains
Good Will-Hinckley Maine Academy of Natural Sciences
Maine Department of Education
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| USDA Farm to School Census Preliminary Results |
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View the preliminary results of the USDA Farm to School Census
Nearly 100% of Maine schools completed the USDA
Farm to School Census earlier this year. This biennial survey of schools across the country measures farm to school practices from procurement of local foods to school gardens to curriculum integration. Review the preliminary results now and
submit a revision by November 20 if your school's data doesn't seem quite right. Schools that missed the original deadline to complete the Census may still do so up until November 20.
As Schools Buy More Local Foods, Kids Throw Less Food in the Trash
According to the USDA Farm to School Census, at least 42,000 schools spent almost $600 million on local food during the 2013-2014 school year. That's up almost 50 percent from the previous census conducted two years earlier. The schools reported that when they served local food, their kids ate more healthful meals and threw less food in the trash.
More Students are Eating Locally Sourced Food
Students in public schools are eating healthier cafeteria meals made from an increasing array of locally sourced food, according to the recently released USDA Farm to School Census. Of the Census respondents, 75 percent of districts said they saw at least one of the following benefits at their campuses with Farm to School programs: "less plate waste; improved acceptance of the healthier school meals; increased participation in school meal programs; lower school meal program costs; and increased support from parents and community members for the healthier school meals".
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| RSU 22 Celebrates Farm to School Month & Maine Harvest Lunch Week |
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RSU 22 Started School Year off Strong with Farm to School Activities
RSU 22 schools (Frankfort,
Hampden, Newburgh, and Winterport) celebrated Maine Harvest Lunch week in style, enjoying local foods in
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| Celebrating Maine Harvest Lunch Week |
fully decorated cafeterias.
Smith School in Winterport participated in Farm Day with the following activities:
Garden Activities with Fisher Farm * The importance of soil * Life cycle of a seed * Growing vegetables in the winter
Honeybees with Peter Cowin * Introduction to Honeybees * Why bees are important to agriculture * What flowers are important to bees? * Honey taste test
Fiber Arts with
Brittany Layman
* Angora Goats-Opportunity to feed and pet * Animal Husbandry * Wool versus fiber * Washing, carding, and spinning-allow kids to card clean wool; demonstrate drop spindle
Cooking Class-Tomato/Carrot Exploration with Cynthia Buzzini * Utilize the Mobile Cooking Cart * Read "I will Never Not Eat a Tomato" Lauren Child * Explore "inside of a tomato" * Taste Testing
Dairy Goat & Milking with Gentle Meadow Goat Farm * Animal Husbandry * Goat versus Cow's Milk * Milking Demo with "Fake" Utters * Butter Making and Taste Testing
Apples with Alex Layman * Apple Art Project * Taste Test Apple Cider
With support from Hannaford, the district built two
mobile kitchen classrooms and just started using them. Students worked with apples fr
 om the school orchard and are learning basic cooking skills. School Nurse and Health and Wellness Coordinator, Brittany Layman, has created a Google Drive Folder that contains lesson plans, activity ideas, and links to great online resources for incorporating foods into the classroom and also bought several books that correspond with activities.
McGraw Elementary kindergarten students toured Treworgy's Farm/Orchard. They had a great time exploring the apple trees and meeting the animals on the farm.
Wagner 5th and 6th grade students spent the day at the Common Ground Country Fair!
The district's
honey bee apiary has been working hard producing honey and was featured at the Maine Farm to School Conference.
Veggies have been harvested from the school garden and it has been put to bed but the goal is to grow lettuces in the greenhouse over the winter.
So many great things are happening in RSU 22. Feel free to reach out to Brittany to learn more and how to replicate these initiatives in your district.
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Submitted by Brittany Layman, RSU 22 School Nurse and Health & Wellness Coordinator
blayman@rsu22.us 207.862.7322
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| Hyde School Celebrates Ghoulish Harvest Lunch |
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Hyde School students enjoy a Halloween themed harvest lunch complete with ghoulish centerpiece, Sous Chef Donna Leonard.
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| USDA Farm to School Grant Program Success Stories |
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| Summary of Grant Awards 2013-15
USDA's Farm to School Grant Program, established and funded through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, has helped 12,300 schools improve nutritious meal options made with local ingredients for 6.9 million students, while expanding market opportunities for family farmers and fisheries in their communities. Through its Farm to School Grant Program, USDA has awarded 221 grants in 49 States, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands over the past three years, including 5 grants in Maine. Fifty percent of funded projects included expanding healthy menu options offered in the cafeteria; 46 percent included training for food service staff about menu planning, meal preparation, and cooking with local and regional foods; and 65 percent included nutrition education activities. Read the full report here.
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| Policy & Action |
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Seeking Organizations to Sign on to Support the Farm to School Act 2015
The National Farm to School Network is seeking organizational support for the Farm to School Act of 2015. The
Farm to School Act of 2015
builds on the success of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 by proposing an increase in funding from $5 million to $15 million for the
USDA Farm to School Grant Program
. The bill would also ensure that the grant program fully includes preschools, summer food service sites, after school programs, and tribal schools and producers while improving program participation from beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. To learn more, download this
fact sheet
or visit
farmtoschool.org/cnr2015
. To sign on to support the Farm to School Act, click here.
~Submitted by National Farm to School Network Policy Director, Erin McGuire
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree Delivers Floor Speech on Farm to School
In support of National Farm to School Month, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree delivered a floor speech to Congress touting the benefits of Farm to School and USDA Farm to School grants. View the one-minute video
here
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~Submitted by National Farm to School Network Policy Director, Erin McGuire
New Policy Memo Clarifies Local Meat Purchasing
Fruits and vegetables are often gateway products to Farm to School programs, but many school districts are completing their meals with local meat products too. USDA Food and Nutrition Service recently released a Memo that outlines food safety requirements for purchasing and serving poultry, livestock, game, and eggs in child nutrition programs. Highlights include:
- Livestock must be slaughtered at a state or USDA inspected facility
- Food & Nutrition Service recommends that poultry be slaughtered at a state or USDA inspected facility, though there are a few exemptions
- Wild and domesticated game must be voluntarily inspected at a state or USDA inspected facility
- Egg products (liquid, frozen, dried) must be USDA inspected; shell eggs do not need to be pasteurized
This Law Could Radically Cut Food Waste
U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree is working on a comprehensive bill that could reduce food waste at the farm,
 consumer, and institutional levels.
Imagine a world where farmers are rewarded for donating "ugly" produce to food banks and school lunch programs; grocery stores aren't beholden to arbitrary
"sell by dates"
on their packaging; and community compost bins were as ubiquitous as recycling bins.
That's the world that Representative
Chellie Pingree hopes to make a reality. Last week, the Maine congresswoman announced a plan to
introduce comprehensive legislation to help stop food waste. At a time when much of the food waste conversation centers around what consumers can do to
plan better and stretch their groceries further, this is the first effort to seek solutions through a national policy.
We Can't Afford to be Blindsided by Ocean Acidification: Chellie Pingree
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree introduces
that would require th
e National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to identify
which communities are most dependent on the ocean and study how acidification would affect them if valuable industries like lobster harvesting were affected.
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| Survey of Farm to Preschool Practices-Participate Now |
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| 2012 Farm to Cafeteria Conference Art |
The National Farm to School Network is currently conducting a survey of early care and education providers to gain a better understanding of current farm to preschool practices as well as challenges to implementing farm to preschool/early care initiatives. If you are an early care and education provider, please complete the survey by
Friday, November 20, 2015. By completing the survey, you will qualify for a drawing to win one of five framed prints of artwork created collaboratively by attendees of the 2012 National Farm to Cafeteria Conference and designed by Vermont artist Bonnie Acker.
Please share this survey with early care and education staff and providers in your networks. Thank you for your time and assistance in capturing this important information.
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| Funding & Sustainability Opportunities |
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Carton to Garden
Show your students' creativity by re-purposing milk and juice cartons from your school cafeteria to either build or enhance your school garden. Educators can engage students in a hands-on experience creating teachable moments on environmental stewardship, sustainable packaging, and healthy living. The best use of cartons in a school garden gives your school the chance to win one of 14 prizes with a grand prize valued at $5,000. Learn more at
carton2garden.com
Barnraiser
Webinars: Barnraiser, Crowdfunding 101
Every Thursday, 1pm
Calling all farm to school advocates, farmers, producers, and school gardeners. Join Barnraiser's weekly webinars to learn the 5 keys to successful crowdfunding on Barnraiser. Hear the stories of successful campaigns, as well as tips, tricks and insider knowledge from the Barnraiser team to get your farm to school project successfully funded.
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Maine Farm to School Network
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| ME Public Health Districts |
Farm to School programs work to build and tend school gardens, deliver agriculturally-based nutrition education, and develop local food procurement systems to increase agricultural awareness, improve health, and support the local economy.
The MFSN aims to build communication and coordination infrastructure closer to schools and communities which are the foundation of this very special local foods movement.
The MFSN is organized with a State Coordinator and District Representatives in each of the 8 Public Health Districts in Maine. The first annual MFSN Conference, held on May 12, 2012 at Mt. View High School in Thorndike, brought together Farm to School champions from across the state for workshops and networking opportunities. Since then, annual conferences have been held in Portland, Ellsworth, and Hinckley. The Network works to bring more locally sourced foods into schools coupled with experiential agriculture education.
Contact your MFSN Representative (see left) to learn more.
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