Its Fall, Gardeners!
As the leaves are changing and the air is becoming more crisp, it's time to celebrate the successes and challenges we have seen over the past growing season. Some of you have cleaned up the garden and put it to rest for the winter, while some of you are still excitedly harvesting tomatoes and squash! Wherever you are in your garden adventures, sit back with an Iowa apple, and read on... We've got lots of updates and events to fill you in on!
Happy Farm to School Month!
Since its inception, Farm to School Month has brought together thousands of kids, teachers, parents, farmers, food enthusiasts, business owners, school lunch professionals and advocates from diverse sectors who believe in the power of farm to school to improve child nutrition, support local economies and build vibrant communities.
Midwest Meal Day in Des Moines Public Schools
On October 22, 2015, Des Moines Public Schools will be serving the 2nd Annual "Midwest Meal" district-wide. Students in Des Moines will be served corn and apples sourced from Iowa farms, as well as an antibiotic-free chicken drumstick sourced from Nebraska. Use this opportunity to volunteer during a school lunch or to help publicize and bring awareness for Farm to School and eating healthy, local foods. Schools in Des Moines are receiving promotional kits to use on this day. Talk to your school office about helping in the lunchroom and using the promotional kits. (And be sure to send along any great photos or quotes so we can share them out!)
Food Day Apple Crunch
On and around Food Day 2015 (Oct. 24, 2015), millions of people around the country will crunch into an apple in a unifying action to raise awareness about eating better diets for our health and the environment, access and affordability of fruits and vegetables, and supporting local farmers. Most schools will be participating in the Apple Crunch on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015. Join us in the Food Day Apple Crunch! Watch this video for inspiration, and register your apple crunch event here!
EVENTS
Garden Workday: Friday, October 23
There is no school in Des Moines on Friday, October 23. Americorps members and others are invited to volunteer in some school and community gardens to help with harvesting and garden clean-up.
Please email amy....@foodcorps.org as soon as possible if you are interested in helping at any point throughout the day.
School Garden 101 is a fifteen-hour workshop (broken into five sessions) for school staff. The workshops are focused on: a) applying gardening skills, b) planning a school garden, and c) using standards-based curricula in the garden. ISU Extension is hosting a School Garden 101 Train the Trainer event from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm on November 5th in Ames, Iowa. If you would like to attend the School Garden 101 Train-the-Trainer event in November, and offer School Garden 101 workshops in your community next spring, please fill out this form by October 22, 2015. This training is free, and mileage is covered for extension staff.
November 14, 8:30 - 11:00 am, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
This public workshop will bring together a wide range of individuals and organizations engaged in community and school gardens in central Iowa that provide educational programming for gardeners. The goal of the workshop is for participants to learn from each other about the opportunities, needs and gaps that currently exist in the gardening community. Register here, and see attached fliers and press release for the event. Feel free to share widely!
GRANTS
Open now! Due December 18. See attached pdf.
Have a teacher or administrator that wants to start or expand a classroom garden? Pass this promotion along to them and maybe they can receive a $5,000 grant from Smucker's to help! 3 grand prize winners will win $5,000 grants to start or expand a school garden and educational materials on gardening, while 25 secondary winners will receive classroom root viewers, seed packets, and garden activity books.
Schools may to apply for up to $2,000 to support school garden programs. The application process is now open, and Slow Food USA's National School Garden Program wants to help school garden leaders apply.
EXTRA IDEAS
A Handful of Seeds: Seed Saving and Seed Study for Educators
I love saving seeds at this time of year! This publication by Occidental Arts & Ecology Center presents an introductory seed-saving curriculum for kindergarten through sixth grade. It can be used in a school garden project, as part of an environmental education program, and in outdoor or indoor classrooms.
Don't be Scared of Halloween in School!
It really is possible to host healthy Halloween celebrations in school. As you plan this month, look to the Action for Healthy Kids' Healthy Halloween Games for inspiration. No tricks required to get kids to work up an appetite for healthy treats. While you are there, check out their Healthy and Active Classroom Party ideas.
FoodCorps Iowa blog
It's new this year! Check out our FoodCorps IA blog! Stay in the loop of what the 11 FoodCorps service members are doing around the state in Farm to School, community building, and old-fashioned veggie fun.
Crunchy leaves and crisp weather,
Amy Joens and Jenetta Hargrove
Des Moines FoodCorps Service Members
Meet your Des Moines FoodCorps Service Members!
Amy is in her second year as a service member, and is serving at Carver, King, and Moulton Elementary Schools. Jenetta is in her first year as a service member, coming from Racine, Wisconsin. She is serving at Hillis, Findley, and Monroe Elementary Schools.
