Des Moines School Garden Winter News

[Amy Joens]

Happy New Year! 

As the winter is finally upon us, we wanted to check in with our lovely sleeping gardens. (Although... Did your garlic start sprouting like ours did after the fall planting?? I also found some volunteer pea shoots just a few weeks ago before the snow came.) 

This might be the time of year where some would prefer to hibernate, but it is never too early to start getting some plans laid for spring gardens. Read on for a few helpful resources in planning and funding your upcoming gardens, and some events happening this week and this month!

Training Opportunity

School Garden 101

School Garden 101 is a series of workshops to help schools develop sustainable garden programs at their schools.  It will be held Tuesday evenings February 9 - March 8, 2016, 5-8 pm. Stay tuned for more information and registration! Please reply to amy....@foodcorps.org if you have any interest in more information about bringing a team to this training. 

Keep Iowa Beautiful, ISU Polk County Extension, Des Moines Public Schools, and Food Corps will facilitate these series at two locations in the Des Moines Metro.

Events

"Growing Cities" Film Screening - TODAY

The film "Growing Cities" focuses on urban farming in America and asks how much power it has to revitalize our cities and change the way we eat.

Eat Greater Des Moines is partnering with Viva East Bank to host a showing of the documentary at Hiatt Middle School (1430 E University Ave) in an effort to continue learning and exploring local food growth both in the East Bank neighborhoods and overall Des Moines metro. It’s a 58-minute film and will be shown on January 5 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. (all details on attached flyer).

Community Conversations: Farm to School - TOMORROW

If you hadn't yet heard, Des Moines Public Schools was awarded a USDA Farm to School Planning grant in November. During this month's Community Conversations for the district, Lyn Jenkins from Food & Nutrition Management at DMPS will be presenting on the 2016 Farm to School Grant award. Farm to School supports efforts to increase local foods served through child nutrition programs, teach children about food and agriculture through garden and classroom education, and develop schools’ and farmer’s capacities to participate in farm to school. This is a year and a half planning grant to help DMPS gather input from schools, partners and community members as well as learn best practices to shape our own Farm to School Program.

DMPS Community School Conversation
January 6th, 2016
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
DMPS Operations Center, 1917 Dean Ave, Conference Room 112 

All are welcome.

"Fed Up" Film Screening

Join FoodCorps Iowa for a screening of the documentary Fed Up, in partnership with Capital Chiropractic and HoQ.  The screening will take place in Des Moines at the Fleur Cinema, January 26th @ 7:30pm. Come early to sample delicious local fare from HoQ, and learn more about FoodCorps Iowa! Proceeds from the screening will go to FoodCorps Des Moines, serving in partnership with Des Moines Public Schools. 

Please share our Facebook event, and purchase tickets here! See attached flyer for more information. 

Webinar: Farm to School 

Iowa Nutrition Network School Grants Program is hosting a webinar for all interested in Farm to School. This webinar will include information, resources, and ideas for implementing Farm to School programs and activities at your school. The webinar will be Tuesday, January 19th @ 3:00 pm. For more information and for registration, click here. 

Grants

Sodexo Youth Grants by YSA (Youth Service America), Due January 15

YSA and Sodexo Foundation are looking for 125 of the best ideas from young people about how they can help end childhood hunger in their communities. $400 grants are available for youth leaders ages 5-25 across the U.S. to turn their ideas into action and make an impact on the issue of childhood hunger on Global Youth Service Day - April 15-17, 2016 - and beyond. Find out more and apply here.

Hy-Vee One Step Garden Grants, Due February 1

One Step Community Garden Grants may be awarded to organizations whose core focus teaches those in need about health and nutrition through the process of planting, tending and harvesting their own fruits and vegetables. Consideration will be given to those gardens in the Hy-Vee trade area that focus on donation and education.

Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grant, Due February 12
There is a preference for funding requests that have a permanent impact such as facility enhancement (both indoor and outdoor) as well as landscaping/clean up type projects. Projects that encourage parent involvement and build stronger community spirit will be favored. This grant awards between $2,000 and $5,000 per school. Visit the Lowe’s website for more information.

The Pollination Project Grants, Rolling Applications

The Pollination Project is a nonprofit organization that provides $1,000 seed grants to individual change makers. The Project has granted numerous awards to various small agriculture related operations who want to bring change into a community. The Project has received repeated media reports on how the organization is impacting small agricultural practices. New grants are awarded daily and there is no deadline for when to apply.

Warm thoughts to you! Please reach out if there is anything you need. 

Amy Joens and Jenetta Hargrove

Des Moines Public Schools FoodCorps Service Members