Farm To School BC Update April 2023: New Resources for Educators and Events

[Vicky Serafini]

Hello Northwest Food-Literacy Enthusiasts!

April is feeling much like Fall in our part of the province. Nonetheless, school gardeners are starting seedlings and prepping their gardens in anticipation of warmer weather. Farm to School BC has some exciting resources for educators looking to incorporate gardening and food into their teaching this spring, as well as some engaging in-person and virtual events.

F2SBC23 Conference Program Announced!

We are thrilled to share the preliminary schedule for the "Planting the Seed" F2SBC23 Conference! Take a sneak peek at the draft two-day agenda, taking place from May 18th to 19th, and discover further information about the listed workshops, panels, and talks on our website. 
 
Final ticket prices are now in effect. Remember, we offer discounts for students attending secondary or post-secondary institutions and for seniors aged 65 and above. Register now to secure your spot! Learn more about the conference venue and nearby accommodations here.

Hands on Food

Hands on Food is the product of a collaboration between Interior Health, School District 73, Farm to School BC and the Public Health Association of BC. Our lessons were developed by registered dietitians and educators, and include student-tested recipes and activities that align with the BC curriculum. These hands-on lessons have been successfully implemented in many classrooms, proving to engage and educate students. You can explore our Cook it, Preserve it, Grow it, and Don't Waste it lesson plans by visiting our website at https://handsonfood.ca 

We also invite you to attend our informational webinar in April to learn more about Hands on Food and help us celebrate the launch of this valuable resource. Join us on April 27th at 3:30 pm PST on Zoom by signing up at https://handsonfood.eventbrite.ca/ 

School Garden Mentorship Program: January-October

Farm to School BC is offering a free mentorship program for K-12 educators in BC who are in the initial stages of creating a school garden or are revitalizing an existing school garden. This program includes a series of monthly after-school online workshops, facilitated discussion groups and the opportunity to join a supportive cohort of school garden educators from across the province. Visit our website for a complete list of webinars and discussion groups.

Just Released! New Food Literacy Lesson Plans

These four new lesson plans are suitable for any time of year and are simple to follow. Download and dive in today!

• Journey of Food Game
• Learning with Food Scraps
• Eat Local Year-Round
• Taste the Rainbow

Spring Learning Activities

Check out out website for an extensive list of learning activities for April-June.

• Grow salad greens in the classroom
• Learn about eggs in the kitchen
• Use Spring Harvest Crop Cards and the Northern BC Crop Planning Chart to plan your spring planting

Find more activities at https://farmtoschoolbc.ca/spring-learning-activities/

Take care,

Vicky Serafini (she/her) Northwest Region  Community Animator,  Farm to School BC  a program of the Public Health Association of BC  northwe...@farmtoschoolbc.ca www.farmtoschoolbc.ca

I write in gratitude from the unceded land of the Tsimshian.