Farm to School

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Comment by Lobsters on the Fly on January 20, 2010 at 3:05pm

This is what I've come up with. Please let me know if you know anyone interested in participating!

I'm working on a new program called the Lobsters on the Fly School for Shrimps! I'm looking for some fishermen that might be interested in teaching preschool and elementary aged kids about commercial fishing: seafood, nutrition, how to catch fish, sustainability, importance of buying local. Maybe even bringing a live lobster to the class, definitely some pictures and I am working on how to create some take home pamphlets with good information for the parents. Obviously, this work is entirely volunteer but in the end will benefit Maine's commercial fishing and seafood industry. If you are interested in volunteering for this program or work at a school that is interested in having a fisherman visit, please contact me @ lobstersonthefly@gmail.com.

Comment by Rippling Waters Farm on January 20, 2010 at 12:18pm

If anyone works directly with middle- or high school students, there is an upcoming event at St Joseph's College in Standish that may be of interest. The Saco Valley / Lakes Region Food Policy Council is hosting an event featuring Sam Levin and classmates of Monument High School of Great Barrington, MA, who will discuss the challenges and triumphs of creating a student-run organic garden at their school. The event is Thursday, January 28, at 6:30 PM. Contact staff of Rippling Waters Organic Farm at 642-5161 FMI.

Comment by Lobsters on the Fly on January 20, 2010 at 11:12am

i've been thinking lately of something similar to this for the fishing community. i haven't had the chance to read all of the comments so forgive me if this has already been brought up. my thoughts regarding fishing are for a lobsterman/shrimper/crabber to go into an elementary class to teach the process of fishing, history, how to become a commercial fisherman and perhaps provide a pamphlet to bring home pertaining to eating local foods/nutritional value etc. any thoughts? when children get excited they talk a lot! :)

Comment by Amanda Beal on July 29, 2009 at 11:42am

Something that may be of interest: Maine College Dining Summit at St. Joeseph's College in Standish on August 5th, 2009

Maine DiningSummit2009.pdf

Comment by Amanda Beal on July 29, 2009 at 9:43am

Just a reminder - it's not too late to register!

Connecting Classrooms to Cafeterias:
From Arugula to Zucchini
A Conference for K-12 Educators

August 7, 2009 – 9:00 to 4:30

Gorham Middle School

106 Weeks Road, Gorham, Maine 04038

Conference registration is $15.00 per person – includes a delicious local lunch!

* 1.0 CEU is available – if interested, bring a check along on the day of the conference for $20.00, made payable to the University of Southern Maine.*

AGENDA

9:00-9:30 Registration - garden open for self-tours
9:30-9:50 Opening remarks
10:00-12:00 Workshop Session 1 (see choices below)
12:00-1:30 Maine Harvest Lunch & Panel Presentation
1:30-3:30 Workshop Session 2 (see choices below)
3:30-4:30 Garden open for guided or self-tours


Workshop Session 1

A: Integrating School Garden Activities into Classroom Curriculum – Grades 6-12 (Heather Russell Whitaker, Gorham Schools, Jessica Rhys, Maine School Garden Network & Cultivating Community)
A session for grades 6-12 educators who already have school gardens or are interested in starting
one with their students, and are looking for ideas to link activities to various subjects. Weather
permitting, this session will include time outside in Gorham Middle School’s garden.


B: Maine Foods for Maine Kids Curriculum Program Training - Grades K-5 (Sarah Plummer,
Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District)
A session for grades K-5 educators that will delve into the progressive local foods curriculum
program developed to support the Maine Harvest Lunch program in schools.

C: The Making of a Maine Harvest Lunch Cooking Class (Cheryl Wixson, Maine Organic Farmers &
Gardeners Association)
A hands-on class using locally grown, seasonally available foods. Cheryl has taught this fun and
enlightening class to many school food services staff, teachers and students in support of the
Maine Harvest Lunch program.

D: Classroom Composting (Elizabeth Patten, Healthy Foods from Healthy Soils)
The author of Healthy Foods from Healthy Soils - A Hands-On Resource for Teachers, Elizabeth will
teach participants about classroom composting and vermiculture, as well as discuss the basics of outdoor
systems.


Workshop Session 2

E: Integrating School Garden activities into your Curriculum – Grades K-5 (Heather Russell Whitaker,
Gorham Schools, Jessica Rhys, Maine School Garden Network & Cultivating Community)
A session for grades K-5 educators who already have school gardens or are interested in starting
one with their students, and are looking for ideas to link activities to various subjects. Weather
permitting, this session will include time outside in Gorham Middle School’s garden.

F: Maine Foods for Maine Kids Curriculum Program Training - Grades 6-8 (Amanda Beal, PROP’s
Communities Promoting Health Coalition)
A session for grades 6-8 educators that will delve into the progressive local foods curriculum
program developed to support the Maine Harvest Lunch program in schools.

G: Taste Testing Activities for Students (Local Sprouts Cooperative)
Educators from Local Sprouts Cooperative will share recipes and techniques that engage and
encourage students to try new foods as a strategy for shifting food preferences toward healthier
options.

H: Preserving the Harvest (Kathy Savoie, University of Maine Cooperative Extension)
Kathy will teach the basics of food safety and preservation in a kitchen setting, and discuss
Cooperative Extension resources for educators.


REGISTER AT:
www.mofga.org - select HOME, then CALENDAR and scroll to August 7th

INQUIRIES may be directed to:
Amanda Beal at abeal@propeople.org or 207-553-5838


Conference co-sponsors: Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association, Cultivating Community, Maine School Garden Network, Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District, University of Maine Cooperative Extension and PROP's Communities Promoting Health Coalition (A Healthy Maine Partnership).

Comment by Amanda Beal on June 25, 2009 at 6:23pm

Hi All,

Just wanted to alert you to an event happening in Gorham on August 7th:
Connecting Classrooms and Cafeterias: From Arugula to Zucchini - A Conference for K-12 Educators. Check out the ELFC calendar or MOFGA's online calendar (www.mofga.org) for more info.

Thanks,
Amanda

Comment by Heather Albert-Knopp on February 27, 2009 at 12:22pm

Mount Desert Elementary School (in Northeast Harbor) was featured on Martha Stewart Living in January! You can watch the clip online at this link (look on the right side of the page for Mount Desert School and click there) --

http://www.marthastewart.com/show/the-martha-stewart-show/detox-your-diet-with-dr-andrew-weil?autonomy_kw=Mount%20desert%20Island%20School

Comment by Ken Morse on February 21, 2009 at 12:23pm

Oops, Sorry, the Legislation is called Maine Food for Maine Students.

Comment by Ken Morse on February 21, 2009 at 12:22pm

The Maine Farm to School Work Group is working with Jeff McCabe, new Rep from Skowhegan to introduce Farm to School legislation. It's called Maine Food for Maine People and it endorses the work of the Work Group which is a group of representative of local, regional and state organizations and state departments working to create a framework to support the growth of Farm to School efforts in Maine.

Comment by Sharon Kitchens on February 19, 2009 at 5:28pm

Who can tell me about what is going on in Maine to encourage the state's school system to cut out junk food and get farm fresh/local/nutritious made meals in? With the lobstermen suffering so this past fall I've been thinking a lot about how Maine school children could have been eating lobster rather than french fries!

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