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Friday, December 16, 2016

Farm to School VISTA Opportunity in Traverse City- Deadline December 23rd!

Are you passionate about healthy food, farms, and kids? The Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District is hiring a full-time AmeriCorps VISTA position to advance farm to school initiatives and activities across northwest lower Michigan in partnership with MSU Extension and the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities. The position is based in Traverse City, MI.

The position is aimed at helping local schools teach the importance of eating healthy foods and living a healthy lifestyle. The goal is to support and encourage teachers by providing them with classroom tools that use cooking, gardening, nutrition, and farming as a lens through which to have a deeper and richer learning experience. It's a great job for those that love food, kids, education, local farming, and community enrichment. 

A strong applicant should be a great communicator, and able to work well both collaboratively and independently with varying amounts of given structure. Applicants should have an interest in education, local food, and/or creating an equitable community of health. 

The VISTA will also be in charge of maintaining and updating a resource website as needed with new content and material. Projects may integrate cooking demonstrations in partnership with local chefs using video production or finding unique and engaging ways to circulate local farm to school news and resources. There will be many opportunities to brainstorm and initiate other projects that demonstrate the value of farm to school to community stakeholders.

Applications for the position can be accessed here. The deadline to apply is just ONE WEEK away- December 23rd. 

If you have any questions, please contact Amanda Stevenson (vistaleader@unitedwaynwmi.org), Marshall Collins, (MCollins@tbaisd.org) or Meghan McDermott (meghan@groundworkcenter.org). 

Best, 

Meghan


--
Meghan McDermott | Policy Specialist

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Webinar Recordings Now Available!

Hi folks –

 

If you missed our Cultivate Michigan: What's in it for Schools and Early Childhood Programs? webinar yesterday, or our Farm to ECE mini webinar: Introduction to Local Procurement today, they are both now recorded and available on our website! They can be accessed at the links below

 

What's in it for Schools and Early Childhood Programs?: Using Cultivate Michigan to accelerate farm to school success

Farm to School Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Rd Rm 309 | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-432-4525 (f) 517-353-3834

www.foodsystems.msu.edu | www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

REMINDER: Farm to ECE Webinar TODAY at 1:00 pm!

Farm to ECE Webinar Series: Introduction to Local Procurement

Today at 1 pm!

 

Local procurement is a central component of Farm to ECE. This webinar will cover a brief overview of local purchasing options. There will also be a brief overview of rules and regulations that pertain to local purchasing in early childhood programs. This is the third installment in the Farm to ECE mini-webinar series.

 

Register here: https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/6a6c8cfb0c8172737510d14dfea9e911

 

 

 

Abby Harper

Farm to School Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Rd Rm 309 | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-432-4525 (f) 517-353-3834

www.foodsystems.msu.edu | www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

CORRECTED LINK Re: Cultivate Michigan Webinar TODAY at 2 pm!

Corrected registration link:

https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/b268863a0f4b12ce7510d14dfea9e911

 

 

Cultivate Michigan: What's in it for schools and early childhood programs?

 

Today from 2:00 – 2:40, you will have the opportunity to learn more about Cultivate Michigan and the benefits to participating institutions. Cultivate Michigan is a statewide local purchasing campaign of the MI Farm to Institution Network that supports schools, early childhood programs, and other institutions throughout Michigan in their local purchasing efforts. This webinar is ideal for folks new to Cultivate Michigan, or those who have had some questions about the benefits in signing up. The webinar will give an overview of the project and then dive deep into the benefits of participating.

 

Registration is required in order to get access to the webinar!

 

Best, and hope to see you there!

 

Abby Harper

Farm to School Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Rd Rm 309 | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-432-4525 (f) 517-353-3834

www.foodsystems.msu.edu | www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

Cultivate Michigan Webinar TODAY at 2 pm!

Cultivate Michigan: What's in it for schools and early childhood programs?

 

Today from 2:00 – 2:40, you will have the opportunity to learn more about Cultivate Michigan and the benefits to participating institutions. Cultivate Michigan is a statewide local purchasing campaign of the MI Farm to Institution Network that supports schools, early childhood programs, and other institutions throughout Michigan in their local purchasing efforts. This webinar is ideal for folks new to Cultivate Michigan, or those who have had some questions about the benefits in signing up. The webinar will give an overview of the project and then dive deep into the benefits of participating.

 

Registration is required in order to get access to the webinar!

 

Best, and hope to see you there!

 

Abby Harper

Farm to School Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Rd Rm 309 | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-432-4525 (f) 517-353-3834

www.foodsystems.msu.edu | www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

What is "Local?" Understanding How Michigan Institutions Define Local Food

Greetings,

Please see info about and a link to a new summary from the Michigan Farm to Institution Network below!

 

 

 

What is "Local?" – Understanding How Michigan Institutions Define Local Food

 

Over the summer, Michigan Farm to Institution Network staff conducted an informal online survey of Michigan institutions to get a better understanding of how institutions across the state define local food. We found that though institutions use a range of different definitions (or a combination of definitions), there is substantial overlap, and over half of surveyed institutions use a definition that includes "grown or raised in the state of Michigan," which aligns with the definition used by the MI Good Food Charter and the Cultivate Michigan campaign. We hope that by establishing some common understandings of what "local" means, we can help make local food more accessible and easier to identify and source.

 

A summary of our findings is now available on the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems site: http://foodsystems.msu.edu/resources/understanding-how-michigan-institutions-define-local-food

 

The Michigan Farm to Institution Network is co-coordinated by the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems and the Ecology Center, with support from MSU Extension. We work toward the Michigan Good Food Charter goal that Michigan institutions source 20% of their food from Michigan sources by the year 2020. For more information, go to mifarmtoinstitution.org or cultivatemichigan.org.

 

Megan Thompson

Farm to Institution Data Manager

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Road – Rm 309 Natural Resources Building East Lansing, MI, 48824

thom1306@anr.msu.edu

517-432-0307

 

Friday, December 9, 2016

MI Farm to School News

Greetings all!

 

The news is coming two weeks in a row, in part because there are a lot of deadlines and great opportunities coming up! Keep an eye towards the webinars and a couple job fellowships with our good friends at Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities in Traverse City! Also, next week we'll be sending out the registration for the Cherry Slurp on February 14, 2017, so keep an eye out for that too!

 

News

·         Diversity of people and perspectives on display at Michigan Good Food SummitModel D

o    Another great highlight on the Michigan Good Food Summit.

 

Opportunities

·         Upcoming MI Farm to School Webinars

o    Advancing Farm to School Efforts with Cultivate MichiganTuesday, December 13, 2016 2:00 pm

§  If you're new to Cultivate Michigan or have been hesitant to sign up, this webinar is for you!

o    Introduction to Local Procurement in ECEWednesday December 14, 2016 1:00 pm

§  The third in our MI Farm to ECE Webinar Series.

·         Cultivate Michigan Dry Bean TourJanuary 26, 2017

o    This tour is an exciting opportunity to explore the supply chain for Michigan Dry Beans and learn how they make it from the field to your institution. See event details for more information.

 

Jobs and grants

·         Farms, Food & Health Fellowship Deadline December 16

o    Groundwork Center seeks a dynamic, self-starter to assist with connecting local food to healthcare and wellness initiatives in our region, as well as support in carrying out a statewide policy initiative focused on school children's health and local economy entitled 10 Cents a Meal for School Kids & Farms.

·         Building Healthy Communities FellowshipDeadline December 16

o    Groundwork Center seeks a dynamic, self-starter to implement strategies to increase access to healthy food in communities throughout northwest lower Michigan.

·         Grant opportunity: USDA Child Nutrition Technology Innovation Grant USDA FNS

o    This grant is designed to encourage state agencies to innovate technology solutions which can foster collaboration and save money.

·         !!!Garden Grant: Kids Gardening 2017 Youth Garden Grants Deadline December 15, 2017

o    Available for schools and ECE, this grant provides $750 worth of materials to support new or established gardens that serves at least 15 youth between 3-18 years of age.

 

Best,

 

Abby Harper

Farm to School Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Rd Rm 309 | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-432-4525 (f) 517-353-3834

www.foodsystems.msu.edu | www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

Update-Food & Farming Fellowships-Traverse City, MI-Dec. 16 deadline

Updated with new link.

Greetings all,

The Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities is accepting applications now for two Fellowship positions in our Food & Farming Program. The deadline to apply for the Spring fellowship term is Dec. 16, 2016. Please spread the word, and see below for more info! 

Farms, Food & Health Fellowship

Groundwork Center seeks a dynamic, self-starter to assist with connecting local food to healthcare and wellness initiatives in our region, as well as support in carrying out a statewide policy initiative focused on school children's health and local economy entitled 10 Cents a Meal for School Kids & Farms.

Groundwork Center seeks a dynamic, self-starter to implement strategies to increase access to healthy food in communities throughout northwest lower Michigan.

Learn more about both of these positions, and more, here: www.groundworkcenter.org/fellowships 

Thanks,
Diane

*Please note my email address has changed to diane@groundworkcenter.org

__________________________

Diane Conners  |  Senior Policy Specialist
Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities

P   231-499-3937

T   @grndwk

A  148 E Front St, Suite 301  |  Traverse City, MI 49684 

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Food & Farming Fellowships-Traverse City, MI-Dec. 16 deadline

Greetings all,

The Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities is accepting applications now for two Fellowship positions in our Food & Farming Program. The deadline to apply for the Winter fellowship term is Dec. 16, 2016. Please spread the word, and see below for more info! 

Farms, Food & Health Fellowship

Groundwork Center seeks a dynamic, self-starter to assist with connecting local food to healthcare and wellness initiatives in our region, as well as support in carrying out a statewide policy initiative focused on school children's health and local economy entitled 10 Cents a Meal for School Kids & Farms. Click here to learn more.

Groundwork Center seeks a dynamic, self-starter to implement strategies to increase access to healthy food in communities throughout northwest lower Michigan. Click here to learn more.

Diane

 

*Please note my email address has changed to diane@groundworkcenter.org
__________________________

Diane Conners  |  Senior Policy Specialist
Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities

P   231-499-3937

T   @grndwk

A  148 E Front St, Suite 301  |  Traverse City, MI 49684 

Friday, December 2, 2016

MI Farm to School News

Greetings Farm to School team!

 

It's December, but the farm to school activity keeps on rolling! There are lots of learning opportunities coming up to keep your farm-to-school brain growing, including some webinars so you don't even have to leave the warmth of your bed (Michigan's cold, y'all).

 

We initiated our Farm to ECE Webinar Series this week, and several exciting farm to school webinars are set up for the coming months. Also don't forget, the deadline for the USDA Farm to School Grant is December 8! And this newsletter proves how much is still going on

 

Stay tuned for information coming out in the next two weeks on the Michigan Cherry Slurp, a one-day effort (similar to the crunch) on February 14 to celebrate cherries by sluuuuuurping into a smoothie. Details to come!

 

Also, a big shout out to farm to school champion and food service director of Detroit Public Schools Betti Wiggins! If you haven't seen their work in Detroit, you're missing out! She was just awarded the Foodservice Achievement Management Excellence (FAME) Director of the Year Award. Congrats, Betti!

 

 

News

·         Farm to school efforts positively impact tribal communitiesUSDA Food and Nutrition Service

o    Many tribal communities are reconnecting children with their rich history by establishing farm to school programs. This story highlights the Inter-Tribal Buffalo Council in South Dakota and their work to increase local bison in school meals.

·         Pumpkin pie isn't just for pies and lattes – here's 2 new ways to enjoy itMlive

o    Spoiler: the other two ways are featured in Dan Gorman's awesome Cultivate Michigan taste tests at Montague and Whitehall Public Schools!

·         Homegrown and served without a moanGreat Lakes Echo

o    Spotlight on farm to school efforts at Gwinn and Waterford public schools, with highlights on the Making Michigan Recipes Work series, the Michigan Apple Crunch, and Cultivate Michigan. These are a few of my favorite things…

·         Supporting sustainability with farm to school food programsUS News

o    Great article on the farm to school network and the future of farm to school.

·         DPSCD receives support from Life Time Foundation for food assistance – Michigan Chronicle

o    Detroit Public Schools received a grant that will help fund 40 pieces of new farm and kitchen equipment to help harvest and mass produce grown in the Detroit School Garden Collaborative.

 

Opportunities

·         Webinar: Advancing Farm to School Efforts with Cultivate MichiganTuesday, December 13, 2016 2:00 pm

o    What's in it for schools and webinars? If you're new to Cultivate Michigan or have been hesitant to sign up because you didn't know what the benefits were, this webinar is for you!

·         Webinar: Introduction to Local Procurement in ECEWednesday December 14, 2016 1:00 pm

o    The third in our MI Farm to ECE Webinar Series, we will cover a brief overview of procurement rules and regulations as they apply to ECE, available sources for local foods, and first steps to starting local procurement in your early childhood program.

·         !!!Deadline! USDA Farm to School Grant December 8, 2016

o    If you're planning to apply for a grant this year, the deadline is approaching!

·         Grant opportunity: USDA Child Nutrition Technology Innovation Grant USDA FNS

o    This grant is designed to encourage state agencies to innovate technology solutions which can foster collaboration and save money.

 

Resources

·         MI Farm to ECE Webinar SeriesMSU Center for Regional Food Systems

o    The first two webinars, which occurred this past week, are now up and available to view on our website! They're both about 10 minutes in length, so easy to digest while you're digesting lunch.

o    New Web-Based School Meals Application PrototypeUnited States Department of Agriculture

o    A new web-based prototype aims to make the application for the National School Lunch Program easier for schools and families alike.

o    **Reach for the Stars with Farm to PreschoolNorth Carolina Farm to Preschool Network

o    This resource aligns farm to preschool initiatives with North Carolina's early childhood quality standard rating system.

o    Increasing Prevalence of US Elementary School Gardens, but Disparities Reduce Opportunities for Disadvantaged StudentsBridging the Gap

o    This study showed that the increase in garden programs over time haven't yet reached lower-income students to the same extent it's reached wealthier schools.

o    Local School Wellness Policy ToolkitUSDA FNS

o    This kit includes tools to communicate information about local school wellness policies to parents and staff. It's free!

 

Jobs

·         Farm to Institution Program CoordinatorMMFEC LCC Montana

o    The Program Coordinator with the Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center of Lake County Community Development Corporation would provide support to food and agriculture program, including Farm to Institution efforts.

·         Policy DirectorFoodCorps

o    The Policy Director will lead government relations and federal and state policy initiatives.

 

Happy harvesting to those that are still growing with season extension, and happy storage to the rest of you!

 

Best,

 

Abby Harper

Farm to School Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Rd Rm 309 | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-432-4525 (f) 517-353-3834

www.foodsystems.msu.edu | www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Upcoming Webinar: Advancing Farm to School Efforts through Cultivate Michigan

What's in it for Schools and Early Childhood Programs? Advancing farm to school efforts through Cultivate Michigan

Tuesday December 13, 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm

 

Cultivate Michigan is a statewide local food purchasing campaign of the MI Farm to Institution Network. Cultivate Michigan supports schools, early childhood programs, and other institutions throughout Michigan in local food purchasing efforts. This webinar will give an overview of the project and then dive deep into the benefits of participating. Join us to learn how joining Cultivate Michigan can enhance and accelerate your local food purchasing efforts, and find out why others are jumping on board!

 

If you've heard about Cultivate Michigan and haven't yet signed up, or if you're new to farm to school and looking for supporting resources, this webinar will be an opportunity to dive into the benefits to schools and early childhood programs of signing up and participating. Make sure you're equipped with all the best resources to start 2017 farm to school efforts off right!

 

Register for this webinar at: https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/b268863a0f4b12ce7510d14dfea9e911

 

 

 

Best,

 

Abby Harper

Farm to School Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Rd Rm 309 | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-432-4525 (f) 517-353-3834

www.foodsystems.msu.edu | www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

MI Farm to ECE Webinar Series Continues TODAY at 1 pm

A reminder that today is the second in the MI Farm to ECE Webinar Series! Join us at 1 pm to learn more about Farm to Early Care and Education.

 

This is the second in the 12-part Webinar Series and will be focused on strategies to introduce local foods to young children. The first webinar, an Introduction to Farm to Early Care and Education, was held Monday November 28 and is available for viewing. See attached for a summary of the webinars and individual registration links.

 

November 30, 2016 1:00 pm – Strategies for introducing new foods

The second webinar in the series will be presented by Julie Alpers-Preneta. Julie is the chef at Leelanau Children's Center, which has been a MI Farm to School Grant Program grantee since 2013. Leelanau Children's Center purchases much of their food from local farms, and this webinar will highlight successful strategies they've used to introduce children to new local foods. Register for this webinar here.

 

Best,

 

Abby Harper

Farm to School Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Rd Rm 309 | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-432-4525 (f) 517-353-3834

www.foodsystems.msu.edu | www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

Monday, November 28, 2016

Reminder: Farm to ECE Webinar Series starts Today!

The first of the MI Farm to ECE Webinar Series starts today at 1 pm!

 

Today at 1 pm, join us for the the first in a 12-part webinar series focused on Farm to Early Care and Education. These webinars will be presented in 15 minute segments with time for question and answers. This first webinar will include an overview of Farm to ECE efforts and resources available to help support programs looking to increase their early purchasing efforts.

 

Please register at the link below to join us today, and see attached for details on upcoming webinars!

https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/c81b9591536e007366858a512be5123a

 

Best,

Abby Harper

Farm to School Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Rd Rm 309 | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-432-4525 (f) 517-353-3834

www.foodsystems.msu.edu | www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

Thursday, November 24, 2016

event

We are extending the registration to Monday November 28 – please consider participating in this December 1 event – in person or by Zoom webinar!

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

There's still time to register! December 1 - "Scanning the Breadth of MSU Food Systems Research and Outreach to Spark Ideas and Catalyze Collaborations"

We are extending the registration to Monday November 28 – please consider participating in this December 1 event – in person or by Zoom webinar!

 

Click the link below (read details and then follow the link to register)

 

http://foodsystems.msu.edu/events/scanning-the-breadth-of-michigan-state-university-food-systems-research-and-outreach

 

 

-- 

Rich Pirog, Director

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Road, Room 302

East Lansing, MI 48824

Office: 517-353-0694

Cell: 515-231-7556

E-mail: rspirog@msu.edu

foodsystems.msu.edu

 

Monday, November 21, 2016

2016-2017 Farm to ECE Mini-webinar Series

Announcing the 2016-2017 Farm to Early Care and Education Mini-Webinar Series!

The 2016-2017 Farm to ECE Mini-Webinar Series is a series of 12 webinars that will cover various topics in Farm to ECE. Webinars will be 15 minutes of presented material with time for questions and answers following. This series is directed at early childhood program staff including food service directors, cook staff, administration, teachers, and family day care home providers, and can also be beneficial for those seeking to support farm to ECE efforts. Please see the attached document for a schedule of following webinars including brief webinar descriptions and links to register for each webinar.

 

November 28, 2016 1:00 pm - Introduction to Farm to ECE

The first of the series will be held next Monday, November 28 at 1:00 pm, and will provide an overview of Farm to Early Care and Education. The webinar will include an overview of Farm to ECE efforts and resources available to help support programs looking to increase their early purchasing efforts. Please register here.

 

November 30, 2016 1:00 pm – Strategies for introducing new foods

The second webinar in the series will be presented by Julie Alpers. Julie is the chef at Leelanau Children's Center, which has been a MI Farm to School Grant Program grantee since 2013. Leelanau Children's Center purchases much of their food from local farms, and this webinar will highlight successful strategies they've used to introduce children to new local foods. Register for this webinar here.

 

 

The entire webinar series will be recorded and made available online at a later point in time as a series. Please email harperab@msu.edu if you have any questions!

 

Best,

 

Abby Harper

Farm to School Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Rd Rm 309 | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-432-4525 (f) 517-353-3834

www.foodsystems.msu.edu | www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

November 2016 Michigan School Garden newsletter

MICHIGAN SCHOOL GARDEN NEWSLETTER

November 2016

 

Greetings Michigan School Gardeners –

 

Due to technical difficulties and other issues, we have not been able to get our school garden newsletter out to you.  But now, We're Back! and very happy to be communicating with you again.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< 

Articles

Consider composting in your school garden this fall

by Kaitlin Wojciak

 

Fall is the season when gardens are winding down for the year and we have to prepare the garden for the winter weather ahead. This is often called putting the garden to bed.  Preparing the garden for winter can be an educational experience for adults and students alike. It is also an opportune time to highlight the important process of composting.

 

As defined by CalRecycle, "composting is a natural process that is managed to optimize the conditions for decomposing microbes to thrive. This generally involves providing air and moisture, and achieving sufficient temperatures to ensure weed seeds, invasive pests, and pathogens are destroyed." The end result of the composting process is called compost. This substance can be used as a soil amendment, with fertilizing properties for the garden.

 

Composting is occurring in your garden, whether you are intentionally managing a compost system or not. Natural decomposition occurs as leaves and plant debris break down. It can also occur in a managed system, typically producing more compost, more quickly than natural decomposition. This process is an excellent opportunity to highlight a number of science concepts for your students.

 

There are many benefits to incorporating a compost system into your school garden. Composting can be done on a small scale, perhaps using mostly materials from the garden itself like plant debris and leaves, or on a much larger scale, incorporating cafeteria and lunch waste, along with plant material from the school grounds. What scale your school chooses for a composting system is up to you and your school garden team, depending on what your goals are for composting.

 

Composting is beneficial for several reasons:

  • It reduces decomposable materials going into landfills
  • It allows you to recapture nutrients from garden plants and surrounding plant materials
  • When composting recommendations are followed, the end product is a safe soil amendment, suitable for use in school gardens
  • Materials for composting are often free or low-cost
  • The process offers an education experience: see LifeLab's Compost resource page for ideas on incorporating composting into your curriculum

If composting is a subject that interests you, MSU Extension has a series of articles available online covering the topic of soils and composting. The articles offer insight into the topic and announce further education opportunities.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michigan School Gardens in Winter – Continue the Learning Adventure with Seed Saving

by Kristine Hahn

 

As winter approaches and school gardens are put to bed, it is common leave the school garden and all of its learning opportunities behind until spring.  However there are still many educational activities that can be done during the cold winter months to keep the school garden learning adventure going.  Stay tuned for a series on educational garden activities that are accessible and worthwhile to do in your classroom this winter.

 

If you use open pollinated or heirloom varieties of vegetable seeds, you can let some of your crop go to seed and have your students collect the seed.  This practice can cut down on your costs of buying seed in the spring, and reveals a new dimension of the food system.  As your school garden program develops, you could start your own seed library.

 

If you are not familiar with a seed library, it is a depository of seeds held in trust for the members of that library. Members come to the library and borrow seed for their garden. Members then grow the plants in their garden and at the end of the season; they let a few plants go to seed to "return" to the seed library.  The returned seeds are then available for another gardener.  Seed libraries are great for maintaining varieties of vegetables that are well adapted to your local climate, or that have a certain desired color or taste. 

 

There is a lot of science, history and current events concepts that can be explored with saving seeds, such as genetics (hybrids vs. open pollinated), seed diversity, intellectual property rights and the concentration of the seed producing industry.  Seed saving vividly demonstrates the entire food system, rather than just the part that lands on the plate.  Seed saving also promotes self-reliance and good, nutritional food.

 

You could even start a seed library in your classroom, with your school librarian or in partnership with your local Michigan State University Extension office.  For example, The North Farm at the MSU Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center, along with the Transition Marquette Seed Co-op, MQT Growth, and the U.P. Food Exchange have come together to create a program to offer garden support to five schools in the Central U.P. in 2016 called Start Seeds/Save Seeds.  

 

Rebecca Newburn, who teaches science and math at Hall Middle School in Larkspur, California started the nonprofit Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library at the Richmond Public Library, located near Berkeley.  Newburn's work inspired a group of her sixth grade students make their "Mission Sustainable" project to be opening a seed lending library in the school's library. The students wrote to seed companies, and they "got lots of donations," she reports. 

 

Seed saving provides "a meaningful way to integrate science into the curriculum," says Newburn.  She plans to integrate the seed lending library with a seventh-grade biology unit on genetics in the hope students will joyfully exclaim, "Wow! These two beans are the same species and can be cross-pollinated!"

 

For simple steps to start your own seed library, visit the Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library, or Seed Savers.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

School Garden Grant Information

Compiled by Kaitlin Wojciak

We would always love to hear about your garden grant stories, awards or applications! Please feel welcome to write us with them so we can highlight your experience in the newsletter.

140 Difference Grant Contest

Open: April 21

Close: May 31

Individuals, small businesses and nonprofits are eligible.

Award range: $140 – $10,000

This grant requires you to come up with a project idea in the areas of environmental sustainability, animal welfare, plant-based foods and/or food allergies. Applicants sum up their idea in a Tweet, which is 140 characters or less, and submit through this website. Your idea can be tweeted once per day until the deadline. Winners will be selected and notified each week.

American Honda Foundation

Due dates three times per year, next one is August 1

Schools, nonprofits classified as 501(c) (3) s and private or public schools (elementary and secondary) are eligible.

Award range: $20,000 - $75,000 for one year

Apply online at http://corporate.honda.com/america/philanthropy.aspx?id=ahf

Captain Planet Foundation

Due January 31st for spring and summer projects

Schools and organizations that have an annual operating budget of less than $3 million are eligible to apply. Projects should be performed by youth and have real environmental outcomes.

Award range is between $500 and $2,500.

Apply online at this link

 

The Home Depot Foundation

Community Impact Grants currently open

Schools and 501(c) (3) organizations are eligible.

Awards are up to $5,000

Apply online at this link

The Home Depot also has opportunities to match donations from local stores with nonprofits. Follow this link for more information on how to request a match. 

Project Produce Fruit and Veggie Grants for Schools

Open: February 1, 2015

Due date: None, distributed on a rolling basis

Any district or independent school participating in the National School Lunch Program is eligible.

Must be submitted by district food service director.

These grants are $2,500 and can assist with offering educational activities in the lunchroom, encouraging students to try new veggies and fruits. Read more and apply online at this link.

Safer® School Garden Grant

Providing a chance for a healthier future is exactly why Safer® Brand is giving away a $500 school garden grant. Submit your application between September 1 to December 1. The grant will be awarded on February 1 to the school. Check out the Safer® School Garden Grant page for more information on why school gardens matter, how to build one and to apply for the Safer® School Garden Grant.

Youth Micro-grants through Karma for Cara Foundation

Rolling deadline, currently open

Youth under age 18 who are working on a community service project (including school and community gardens).

Awards are between $250 - $1,000.

Apply online at this link.

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School Garden Educational Opportunities

compiled by Kristine Hahn

 

KEEP GROWING DETROIT

TASTE OF ETHIOPIA: Cooking Ethiopian Food with Chef Phil Jones. Monday, December 5th, 6-8PM at Calvary Baptist Church, 1000 Robert Bradby Dr at McDougall and Lafayette. Ethiopian food YUM! A typical meal includes a variety of vegetarian and meat dishes which you pick up and eat with delightful spongy flat bread called injera. Joins us for this class where Chef Phil Jones will take us on a journey through Ethiopian flavors and recipes.

 

SAVE THE DATE : Starting and Sustaining a School Garden Friday, April 7, 2017 at Charles L. Bowers School Farm 1219 E Square Lake Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304  Registration will be available January 2017.

 

MICHIGAN STATE UNIV 4-H CHILDREN'S GARDEN

Plan a visit for fun AND education http://4hgarden.cowplex.com/Plan_a_Visit/

You can still visit the butterfly house and other indoor gardens in the winter.

 

MSU Tollgate Education Center and Farm

Ongoing field trips

http://tollgate.msu.edu/schools/school-field-trips

 

 

MICHIGAN SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION 64th Annual Conference

Putting Legs on the New Science Standards

March 23-25, 2017

Featuring tours at MSU Tollgate Education Center and Farm

Suburban Collection Showplace,

46100 Grand River Ave,

Novi, MI  48374

Contact: Michelle Maki

mmaki@managedbyamr.com

(734) 973-0433

 

LIFE LAB Workshops at the Garden Classroom

http://www.lifelab.org/for-educators/professional-development/gcworkshops/

 

Archived LIFE LAB Webinars

http://www.lifelab.org/category/webinar/

 

 



Kristine Hahn

Michigan State University Extension Educator

Community Food Systems

Eastern Market Office

1445 Adelaide

Detroit, MI 48207

313-567-9701

248-802-4590 (CELL)

313-567-8726 (FAX)


MSU is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer.  Michigan State University programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status.


"Always be humble and kind." - Tim McGraw