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Monday, September 30, 2019

Sharing a column

Greetings all,
I thought I'd share this column around as I sit on pins and needles up to midnight tonight on the state budget and potential funding for 10 Cents a Meal. Kudos to everyone for creating common ground…
Best,
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, September 13, 2019

MICHIGAN SCHOOL GARDEN NEWSLETTER September 2019

MICHIGAN SCHOOL GARDEN NEWSLETTER

September 2019

Welcome Back School Gardeners!  Lots of great grant information this month J

Articles

Resource Management for Your School Garden Part I

Resource Management for Your School Garden Part II

            ____________________________________________________________

School Garden Grant Information

  • Annie's Grants for GardensDue November 1
    • K-12 Public, private and charter schools are eligible or non-profit organizations supporting a garden at a school.
    • Projects must: include an edible school garden, have school administrator support, involve at least 75 students, and not pay for more than 30% of a school garden coordinator's salary.
    • Awards: $3,000 for first time grantees and $5,000 for returning grantees
  • American Honda Foundation - Due dates three times per year
    • 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
    • Budding Botanist is open to any Title I public or charter school in the United States. Applicants must be planning a new or expanding an existing school garden program designed to teach students about environmental sustainability and the importance of biodiversity
    • Twelve schools will be awarded a $250 curriculum and garden tool package, as well as a check for $2,000 (three schools) or $1,000 (nine schools) to install or expand a school garden.
  • Captain Planet Foundation ecoSolution GrantCurrent cycle open from Sept 15 - Jan 15
    • Schools, nonprofits and other organizations classified as 501(c) (3) are eligible
    • Projects must: support solution-oriented, youth-led projects that result in real environmental outcomes; be based in the United States; only support direct project costs.
    • Award range is between $500 - $2500.
  • Gro More Good Garden GrantsDue October 11
    • Head Start programs located at schools, community action programs, non-profits, hospitals, community centers and intergenerational groups that host Head Start programs are eligible
    • Awards are $5,000 plus a garden kit and curriculum
  • The Home Depot FoundationCommunity Impact Grants currently open
    • Schools and 501(c) (3) organizations are eligible.
    • Awards are up to $5,000
    • 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. 
  • Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation
    • Public schools are eligible
    • Awards from $5,000 - $25,000
    • Visit this link to answer preliminary questions and learn more.
  • North Central SARE Youth Educator Grantdue November 14
    • Educators providing programming on sustainable agriculture for youth are eligible to apply
    • Awards are up to $4,000
  • Salad Bars to School Grant
    • Any district or independent school participating in the National School Lunch Program is eligible to apply. To qualify for a Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools grant, applicants must offer the salad bar as part of the reimbursable meal served in your district.
    • Schools use the award (approximately $3,147 value) to implement salad bars as part of their daily meal program
    • For more information and to apply, follow this link.
    • The top five program awards will be a grant package worth $2,100. An additional 20 grant packages worth $500 will be awarded.
    • Learn more and apply here
  • SeedMoney Garden GrantsOpen from November 15 – December 15
    • SeedMoney is offering a platform to provide mini-grants through a 30-day crowdfunding challenge.
    • Any public food garden project is eligible.
    • 255 grants will be awarded between $50 - $700. Amounts vary depending on how much a project raises through the challenge. Visit the website to learn more and sign up.
  • Target Field Trip Grantsdue October 1
    • K-12 schools (public, private, or charter) are eligible to apply
    • Awards are up to $700
  • Youth Micro-grants through Karma for Cara FoundationRolling deadline
    • Youth under age 18 who are working on a community service project (including school and community gardens).
    • Awards are between $250 - $1,000.

School Garden Educational Opportunities

  • Volunteer Management and Community Support -- September 26th, 2019 2-3pm EST Register
    Are you looking to engage your community in building, maintaining and celebrating your garden? School gardens are ideal places to involve the community and school gardens also require significant maintenance so they're the perfect place to bring people together. Join us as we discuss a few ways in which we have involved the community from regular maintenance with families, weekly volunteer hours, to large work days. We will discuss some of our favorite ways to get people out and excited, ideas for managing large volunteer groups, how to engage consistent volunteers, and help keep your garden looking good.

    Presented by: Sam Ullery: School Gardens Specialist Office of the State Superintendent of Education Washington, DC and Willa Pohlman Director of Programing and Trainings City Blossoms
     
    This webinar is a part of the School Garden Support Organization (SGSO) Network.  Stay tuned for future webinars from members of the network!

  • Wisconsin School Garden Network Webinar: Exploring Soils in the Garden
    September 26, 2019, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
    Soils are alive with a variety of organisms that recycle nutrients, water, and gases. In this free webinar, we will discuss STEM lessons that we can harvest from the soil and demonstrate activities that allow students to explore the power of soils and the world beneath our feet. Activities will include:
  • "Soil your Undies" Challenge - measuring biological activity with a pair of underwear!
    • Soil breathing
    • Earthworm monitoring
    • The teabag test

  • MSU Extension Master Gardener Programs

MSU Extension Master Gardener Training Courses are typically offered starting in January, March and August in several locations around the state.

https://www.canr.msu.edu/master_gardener_volunteer_program/join-us/upcoming-extension-master-gardener-trainings

  • North American Association of Environmental Educators Professional Development

            https://sites.google.com/site/nationalschoolgardennetwork/networking

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   



Kristine Hahn

Michigan State University Extension Educator

Community Food Systems

Oakland County Office

1200 Telegraph Rd. #26E

Pontiac, MI 48341

248-802-4590


*Please note my new office location


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

 

Thursday, September 12, 2019

FW: Fall funding opportunities for farm to school

Greetings,

Passing along this helpful list of funding opportunities below from the National Farm to School Network for those who may not receive this information directly.

 

Best,

 

Colleen Matts

(she, her, hers)

Farm to Institution Specialist

Coordinator, Michigan Farm to Institution Network

Core Partner, National Farm to School Network

Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems

matts@msu.edu | 517.432.0310

foodsystems.msu.edu | cultivatemichigan.org | mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

 

From: National Farm to School Network <info@farmtoschool.org>
Reply-To: "info@farmtoschool.org" <info@farmtoschool.org>
Date: Thursday, September 12, 2019 at 10:03 AM
Subject: Fall funding opportunities for farm to school

 

September 2019: Powered by Blueberries! Conference RFP; Prep for Farm to School Month; Grants; Upcoming Webinars

 

 

SEPTEMBER 2019

 

 

Fall Funding Opportunities for Farm to School / ECE

The beginning of a new school year is a great time to consider starting or ramping up farm to school or farm to early care and education activities in your community. Looking for funding options to help kickoff or expand your efforts? Here are several current fall funding opportunities to explore:

 

Green Education Foundation Green Thumb Challenge Grant

Deadline: September 30

 

Native American Agriculture Fund Grants

Deadline: September 30

 

The Herb Society of America Classroom Herb Garden Grants

Deadline: October 1

 

American Heart Association Teaching Gardens Network Grant Program

Deadline: October 11

 

National Head Start Association Gro More Good Garden Grants

Deadline: October 11

 

Whole Kids Foundation School Garden, Beehive and Salad Bar Grants

Deadline: October 15

 

Chef Ann Foundation Get Schools Cooking Grants

Deadline: October 28 

 

 

 

Back-to-School with Blueberries

The Highbush Blueberry Farm to School Playbook is here to serve as your go-to resource for back-to-school! Whether your school is looking to serve up new delicious and nutritious meals or host an exciting nutrition promotion, the Playbook is packed with content to excite students and guide you and your staff to success all year round. Make your school year positively bluetiful and explore the Playbook today!

 

 

Call For Workshop & Poster Proposals

10th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference 

 

The 10th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference is coming to Albuquerque, New Mexico, April 21-23, 2020! Hosted by the National Farm to School Network, this biennial event is the only national gathering of stakeholders from across the farm to cafeteria movement, making it an unparalleled opportunity to learn, network and innovate with like-minded food movement leaders from across the country. Learn more about the conference here.

Do you have expertise to share? We're seeking workshop and poster proposals from individuals and organizations that are working to improve our food system, advance equity and justice, empower youth, and grow healthier communities. The Request for Proposals (RFP) is open now through Oct. 4, 2019.

Coming Soon: Scholarship applications for the 10th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference will open later this month. Check the conference page on our website and join our Facebook Event to receive updates. 

 

 

 

October is National Farm to School Month

National Farm to School Month is right around the corner! National Farm to School Network is proud to lead this annual celebration. Check out our free resources, planning materials, activity ideas and national calendar of events for ways you can get involved in October. Visit farmtoschool.org/month to get prepared. 

 

 

 

Upcoming NFSN Webinar

 

Bring Farm to School to Life with Highbush Blueberries

October 3 // 1-2pm ET

October is National Farm to School Month, the perfect time to host a farm to school event to celebrate healthy, local food in the cafeteria, classroom and beyond! Resources like the Highbush Blueberry Farm to School Playbook can be a great tool for helping schools find ways to get kids excited about where their food comes from. On this webinar, Nutrition Consultant Dayle Hayes, MS, RD, will lead a panel discussion with three schools that have used the Farm to School Playbook to put together successful nutrition celebrations with blueberries. This webinar is hosted by the National Farm to School Network and sponsored by the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council. Learn more and register here.

 

 

 

Other Upcoming Webinars

 

Food Sovereignty and the Role of Extension: Partnerships that Work

September 16 // 3 PM ET

Sponsored by the Racial Equity in the Food System Workgroup, this webinar will provide an introduction to food sovereignty, looking at how and why this principle is used in different First Nations communities. Two partners (one from the community and one from Extension) will describe how they have worked together on food sovereignty projects. Register here

 

School Garden Volunteer Management and Community Support

September 26 // 3 PM EST

School gardens are ideal places to involve the community and school gardens also require significant maintenance so they're the perfect place to bring people together. Join this webinar to learn about ways to get people out and excited, ideas for managing large volunteer groups, how to engage consistent volunteers, and help keep your garden looking good. This webinar is a part of the School Garden Support Organization (SGSO) Network. Register here

 

Exploring Soils in the Garden

September 26 // 4:30 PM ET

Soils are alive with a variety of organisms that recycle nutrients, water, and gases. In this webinar presented by Veronica Justen, professor at UW-River Falls, learn about STEM lessons that we can harvest from the soil and demonstrate activities that allow students to explore the power of soils and the world beneath our feet. This webinar is hosted by the Wisconsin School Garden Network. Register here

 

What Have the Last 10 Years of School Food Policy Taught Us?

From school lunch shaming to universal free meals, four experts discuss the changes the past decade has brought to the nation's school lunch program and how to make healthy, nutritious food accessible to all. Read more on Civil Eats

USDA 2019 Farm to School Census

The USDA Office of Community Food Systems is launching its third Farm to School Census this month. The Farm to School Census is the only national survey that examines school districts' farm to school activities. It's a valuable measure of the effectiveness, scope, and reach of farm to school activities nationwide, and information gathered through the Census helps improve farm to school efforts at all levels. School Food Authorities (SFAs) will be contacted directly to complete the Census. Learn more here.

 

This email is powered by blueberries. Learn how to fuel your day with highbush blueberries with the US Highbush Blueberry Council's Highbush Blueberry Farm to School Playbook. Explore the Playbook here.  

 

 

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