A garden grows

'Classroom in Bloom' is a half acre garden shared by two schools in Winthrop. The garden lets the students (K-12) experience growing their own food and the cycles of food production hands on. The teachers have incorporated the whole gardening experience into the curriculum which increases the learning and gardening aspects for everyone.
Anaka Mines and Lexi Koch are the founders and co-coordinators of the program, which has been supported by the schools since the spring of 2004. Participation in the garden means young people can experience the satisfaction of working with the soil, understand the pleasure and disappointment of caring for a garden that produces food - from preparing and enriching the soil to planting and nurturing the plant to harvesting and consuming to converting the waste back into the soil.
There is a wonderful video on their web page that recounts a lot of their philosopies and experiences.

Gardening tips

Although many may have already seen this article from Seattle’s Child magazine last fall, it has a wealth of information about the process of making a school garden. Eric Boutin, Auburn’s child nutrition services director, was interviewed about the challenges that he and other Washington school districts face as they strive to “eat local”: The interview is a blueprint and a must-read both for schools that want to start a garden and for others that would like to take advantage of his wealth of knowledge. The merits of the garden for community relations, better food, parent involvement, and school learning opportunities as well as the common pitfalls of contacting farms and securing financial support are all touched upon here.

Cafeteria Trays

For colleges, ditching the tray may reduce impulsive choices and overeating and encourage students to take fewer sugary drinks, in addition to saving money for foodservice! It also improves the cafeteria atmosphere, making it feel more like home. This article from the New York Times examines the latest college cafeteria fashion and where it's happening.

Senate bill on competitive foods in schools.

A recently introduced federal bill, Senate (S.) 934, from Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and eight bipartisan co-sponsors, regarding competitive foods in schools is the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act. It would improve the school lunch and breakfast programs by updating nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold outside of school meals. It would establish minimum nutrition standards and prohibit the sale of food of minimal nutritional value, as defined by the Secretary of Agriculture, in areas where school meals are sold or eaten.

Peninsula and South Sound Farm-to-Table Regional Workshop

There's a great event coming up next Monday, May 11th, to bring together farmers with potential buyers for their food. As farm-to-school programs become more popular, I hear from many school nutrition services directors and buyers that they love the idea of supporting local farms and providing more fresh food for their students, but are having trouble finding farms to buy from. This event will provide a friendly, fun and casual venue for meeting with farms and learning about local purchasing.

It's the Peninsula and South Sound Farm-to-Table Regional Workshop at the Little Creek Casino Resort in Shelton, WA from 12:30-5pm, attendance is free.

Light refreshments will be provided by local farms.

We invite you to strengthen our local food system by connecting farmers with buyers and discussing new market opportunities.

Contact Information: Mark McIntyre

New grants available - Concept papers due May 21st

The WSDA has announced $2.5 million is available in grants for specialty crops. The grants will be given to projects that aim to enhance the production of and access to Washington specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined by USDA as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).
They are looking for concept papers now. If you have an idea and want to apply this link at the WSDA website gives all the details. Since the initial concept papers are due May 21st, there isn’t much time, but the process is relatively easy and we would be glad to help If your project is chosen you will have additional time to complete the solicitation process.
If you have any questions or require clarification send an email to FarmtoSchool@agr.wa.gov.

Cereal helps brain

A Telegraph article reports that eating cereal can boost brain power. A study conducted by Kings College London has shown that cereal is quite beneficial for breakfast. Long reputed as the most important meal of the day, these finding show that within that, cereal is actually the best breakfast choice.
In the study some children were given a glucose drink, and others cereal, and others no breakfast at all. Those that got cereal fared significantly better.
Dr Katerina Campbell, one of the researchers, said: "Breakfast cereal consumption has a potentially significant role in improving morning cognitive performance."