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Support the Farm to School act of 2015

Written by Diane Chapeta
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FarmtoSchoolActJust this month, a new bill supporting Farm to School programming was introduced in Congress: the Farm to School Act of 2015! This bill will be a part of the reauthorization of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 – the original legislation that created a mandate to fund Farm to School programs. For the past five years, $5 million a year has been given to school districts and other groups working to increase local food access and student health and wellness. However, demand for the program is more than five times higher than available funding. The Farm to School Act of 2015 would increase that amount to $15 million!

How does this impact us in Illinois? Last year, only $25,000 of the USDA’s Farm to School grant fund (that $5 million) was given to Illinois programs. Imagine how much more work could be done in schools and communities if that amount increased alongside the general fund. The USDA Farm to School Grant Program increases the use of and improves access to local foods in schools – thus boosting farm income and economic opportunities – while also fostering experiential food education for our nation’s children. Here in Illinois, we could increase the number of school gardens and get children cooking and eating foods that they grow. We could increase capacity in school districts who want to procure local foods. There is so much possibility and the Farm to School Act of 2015 is the best way to make it happen.

What can you do? Add your name to the National Farm to School Network’s sign-on letter. You can show support as a citizen or organization. Also, look out for action alerts from the Illinois Farm to School Network and partners such as the Illinois Stewardship Alliance for specific calls to action. Our support will show our legislators that these programs are important need more funding.

Learn more about the Farm to School Act of 2015 here:
http://www.farmtoschool.org/cnr2015
http://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/expanding-farm-to-school-nationwide/
http://www.ilstewards.org/you-can-help-support-farm-to-school-legislation-today/

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Three Schools, Two Bites, and Healthy Eating for Life

Written by Diane Chapeta
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In the fight against childhood obesity, sometimes the humble tomato can be our best weapon. But how do you get children to eat one when chips beckon? Our answer: the “Two Bite Club.” When Seven Generations Ahead brought our Fresh From the Farm program to three Chicago-area schools, even the pickiest students joined the club. Students at Chase Elementary School in Logan Square, Dunne Technology Academy in Roseland, and Marquardt Middle School in Glendale Heights tried a combined total of 4,030 bites of 23 new foods. Kids tried blueberries, carrots, honey, bell peppers, and pomegranates, but their favorite was jicama. Fresh From the Farm also brought in a bee keeper, a farmer and a master composter to teach children about how food is grown. Now, the children are teaching parents. As one proud mother explained, “Ever since my son started the program, he talks to me about the benefits of fruits and vegetables.” And hopefully, this new mindset will help these children and their families live healthy lives.

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Farm to School Mapping Project

Written by Diane Chapeta
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mappingHow many school districts in Illinois say that they are working on Farm to School projects? How many districts are serving local foods in their cafeterias, and how many want to start? These are questions that the first Farm to School Census, conducted by the USDA in 2012, sought to answer. This year, the USDA has sent the survey out again to see how Farm to School programs are growing.

In anticipation of this new data, which will be available by the end of the year, we at the Illinois Farm to School Network have started the Illinois Farm to School Mapping Project. Due to the work of Jacob Horn, GIS mapping student and Masters Candidate at DePaul University, we now have a framework map from which we can work.

Take a look at our Farm to School Activity map. This map shows Illinois counties shaded for different amounts of activity, with the darkest colors being the counties with the most active school districts. All of our data is district-based and does not show individual school efforts. The dots on the map show the districts that claimed in 2012 to have any Farm to School programming – such as gardens, procurement, education, farm visits, or other activities. Our hope for the 2015 Farm to School census is that we will see a huge increase in activities!

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Kids Rave about Kale

Written by Diane Chapeta
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“More kale, please!”kale

That’s what a group of first through third graders at Stagg Elementary shouted after trying kale for the first time. The students are participating in the Illinois Farm to School Network’s eight-week after-school program.

As you know, Seven Generations Ahead is deeply involved in the Illinois Farm to School Network, a statewide organization that works to bring local foods sourcing and agricultural education into the schools.

Since beginning my internship with SGA, I’ve been working with Lydia Mills, SGA’s Farm to School Network coordinator, on an after-school program at Stagg, a Chicago Public School on the city’s South Side. We’ve also worked hard with the first through third graders there to implement a gardening program at the school, using SGA’s “Sow and Grow” curriculum.

We’re happy to report that these students are even more thrilled about getting their hands dirty in the garden and trying new, and as they would describe it, “nutritious and delicious” foods.

Along with learning about gardening, every week students participate in Mindful Tastings that introduce them to particular to foods that they don’t typically eat or have access to. On this particular day, kale — the low-calorie leafy green known for its potent vitamin A, C, and K nutrients — was the food of choice.

This session ended with Lydia and me leaving the school smiling from ear to ear because we were so inspired by the children’s joy in discovering a wholesome, local, and new food.

Rachelle Reenders is a Dominican University MBA candidate and dietetic intern currently working at Seven Generations Ahead on the Farm to School Network.

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