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‘Farm to School’ program starts
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Students at Powder Valley and other Union County schools will grow food, visit local farms Students at Powder Valley School and five other schools in Union County will soon see the vegetables they grow on their lunch trays. The program is called “Farm to School,” and is made possible by a grant from Meyer-Memorial Trust. The three-year project is a collaborative effort with Oregon Rural Action and Union County Fit Kids Coalition. Andi Sexton, who lives in Haines, is the coordinator. According to www.farmtoschool.org, “The National Farm to School Network sprouted from this desire to support community-based food systems, strengthen family farms, and improve student health by reducing childhood obesity.” Sexton said the students will learn how to grow their own produce, thanks to several greenhouses, and get to see the process from seeds to edible vegetables. “And hoping the kids get more of these foods in their diet,” Sexton said. Powder Valley Superintendent Lance Dixon said this will fit into the school district’s transition from “heat and eat food to homestyle food.”Sexton said teachers also are talking about working the garden projects into lesson plans. The program gets under way with a panel discussion on March 5 that will include represenatives from other Farm to School members, as well as professionals from the Department of Education. The workshop is open to school administrators, food service personnel, teachers, parents and interested community members. Sexton expects to break ground in May, and then the summer school students will help tend the garden. Some ideas for incorporating the foods are: • Feature local foods in breakfast, lunch or snacks once a month, once a week or daily • Offer local foods in the salad bar • Help plan nutritional school gardens and garden-based learning activities with the help of the Union-Baker Education Service District and Extension offices • Take tours of local farms, and invite farmers to visit the school •Feature different vegetables for “Harvest of the Month” Sexton said schools are also encouraged to buy produce from local sources, “which would help the local economy.” Also, she hopes to recruit volunteers — such as Master Gardeners — who can help students in the school gardens. For more information about the Farm to School programs, call Sexton at 541-975-2411 or e-mail her at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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