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Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Farm to ECE Webinar Series continues today at 1 pm!

Greetings network -
Don't miss the 11th in our MI Farm to ECE Webinar Series, starting in less than an hour! In just 15 minutes you'll walk away with easy ideas you can integrate into your farm to ECE program, all in less time than it takes you to eat lunch!

Farm to ECE Lesson Plans
Today, May 31 at 1:00 pm

The 11th in the MI Farm to ECE Webinar Series, this webinar will cover some easy tips to start integrating local foods into your early childhood lesson plans and activities. Join to learn about resources available, easy places to start, and learn about what other programs are doing!

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

Monday, May 22, 2017

Reminder: Registration for 2017 All About Food Conference closes May 30!

Registration for the Macomb Food Collaborative's All About Food Conference closes May 30!

The event will be held at Macomb Community College University Center on Tuesday, June 6th from 8am – 4pm. Register at http://macombfood.org

 

The conference will feature an exciting line-up of keynote and breakout speakers, with topics for everyone engaged in the food system. There will be six school food and garden focused sessions this year, so lots of opportunities to support your programming and get more local food into your schools and early childhood programs! See macombfood.org for session descriptions and information on the keynote speaker panel.

 

 Registration rates and deadlines are as follows:

·         $30 Regular registration through May 30

·         $25 Student registration rate through May 30

 

Scholarships are available. Contact info@macombfood.org for more information or to request an application.

This event is organized by the Macomb Food Collaborative and is sponsored by Ethel's Edibles, Macomb County Planning and Economic Development, and Henry Ford Health Systems.

Please contact info@macombfood.org for more information or with any questions.

 

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

Friday, May 19, 2017

Upcoming Farm to Child Care Webinar

Greetings all!

 

Wanted to make you aware of this upcoming credited webinar that I will be leading with Amanda Gallaher from ACD! Please join us to learn more about incorporating Farm to ECE into your program!

 

Farm to Child Care: Getting Started (1 credit)

May 31st, 7:00-8:00pm ET REGISTER HERE

 

This webinar will provide an introduction to Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) and how to incorporate activities into your child care home or center. Farm to ECE centers around buying and using fresh, local foods in child care and early education programs. Farm to ECE can include activities such as children's gardens, educational activities and farm field trips.

 

Presented by Abby Harper, Farm to School Specialist, and Amanda Gallaher, ACD Registered Dietitian

Free and open to the public

 

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, May 16, 2017

MI Farm to School News

Greetings all!

 

It's been a few weeks since I've sent out news, and my apologies! I've been working with some national partners to expand awareness of farm to ECE at some really wonderful conferences, and it's been refreshing to see how many places farm to ECE has come up! People are all a-buzz about gardens, local food purchasing, and making connections with agriculture. I love it, and it's been wonderful to see so many of you!


This week's news is coming on a Tuesday, and chock full of awesome news about I've highlighted a couple of time sensitive opportunities below that I think you might find valuable!  

 

Resources

 

Creating Culturally Relevant Farm to ECE Programs

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

If you missed the last in our MI Farm to ECE mini-webinar series, be sure to catch us here! Learn some tips for how farm to ECE programs can help you create more culturally relevant early childhood programs. The next webinar is coming up on May 31 at 1 pm , and highlights opportunities to create farm to ECE curriculum!

 

Office of Community Food Systems Farm to School Resources

USDA

The USDA Office of Community Food Systems has updated their resources for procuring local food! Be sure to check out their wealth of guides, fact sheets, and webinars to learn more

 

CACFP Meal Pattern Training Tools

USDA

The new CACFP meal pattern is coming, and these four infographics will help you successfully update your menus to align with the new meal pattern.

 

GREEN Tool offers evidence-based guidance for school garden success

Lehman College

This is one of the first evidence-based guides for planting and nurturing sustainable school gardens, including characteristics of gardens that help to play an enduring role in the life of the school.

 

Opportunities

 

!!!Webinar: Garden to Cafeteria Toolkit Launch

May 18, 4 pm EST

Slow Food USA has assembled a Garden to Cafeteria (GTC) toolkit to assist a school district in developing the necessary food safety protocols, training workshops, and partnerships to launch their own GTC program.

 

Jobs

 

!!!Real Food Challenge: Development Manager

Third Sector New England- Due by May 18, 2017

The largest student movement in the country fighting for food justice and a sustainable food economy is looking for a leader that will help expand the movement for food justice across our generation. Apply here.

 

News

Some excellent news articles this week for your reading pleasure!

 

Hey Kids, Salt Stays and Grains Go in School Meals

AP News

Under changes to federal nutrition standards announced on Monday, schools won't have to cut more salt from meals just yet and some will be able to serve kids fewer whole grains.

 

4 Not-So-Easy Ways to Dismantle Racism in the Food System

Yes! Magazine 

This article visually explains different ways racism plays out in our food system. It also contains two solutions for each of them—some of the systemic changes we'd need to fully address and take action on.

 

"Try-It Tuesdays" Promote Healthy Eating in Schools

Petoskey News

A group of parents and community members have come together in Petoskey and developed a farm-to-school program that allows students to taste, learn and give feedback on the produce that is given to them. 

 

Farm to Early Care and Education in Pennsylvania: A Promising Start with Room for Growth

The Food Trust 

This report provides information on early successes of farm to ECE activities in Pennsylvania, and summarizes expertise, ideas and thoughts on how to move farm to ECE forward.

 

How the quality of school lunches affects students' academic performance

Brookings Institute

This story looks at how school nutrition impacts educational achievement, focusing on the quality of food served. In years when a school contracts with a healthy lunch company, students at the school score better on end-of-year academic tests.

 

Are your kids passionate about food? Here's how they can make a difference

Associated Press

Some fun facts on how kids can take action to make a difference in their food system!

 

 

Best, and have a wonderful week!

 

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, May 10, 2017

Reminder: MI Farm to ECE Webinar Today!

Today is the 10th in the MI Farm to ECE Mini Webinar Series! Join Abby Harper and Kaitlin Wojciak to learn about ways to create culturally relevant and inclusive farm to ECE programs. Or catch up on the first 9 webinars here http://foodsystems.msu.edu/resources/farm-to-ece-webinar-series

May 10, 2017 1:00 pm -  Creating Culturally Relevant Farm to ECE Programs
Food and culture are linked, and farm to ECE programs can be tools in celebrating cultural diversity. Learn about how Farm to ECE efforts support culturally relevant programs. This is the tenth segment in the Farm to ECE Webinar Series.

Please register here

 

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