Farm to School: January 2025 Newsletter
Snowy Days & Fresh Starts
Happy New Year! Welcome to 2025 ❄️
We hope you're enjoying the snowy season and embracing the fresh start of a new year! As the ground rests under a blanket of white, our local farmers are busy planning and preparing for the growing season ahead, dreaming up delicious harvests to share with our school community. This year promises to be filled with delicious discoveries in the cafeteria, hands-on learning experiences in the garden and classroom, and a renewed commitment to cultivating a love for fresh, local food within our school community.
Get ready to dig in with us as we embark on a new year of exciting farm to school adventures! 🍎
In the Spotlight This Month: River Forest Community School Corporation
Egg and Sausage Breakfast Wraps. Sausage from Fischer Farms
Indiana Grown for Schools - Harvest of the Month
Website:
https://www.ingrown4schools.com/har
vest-of-the-month
<<< FEATURED RECIPES >>>
Easy Cheesy Breakfast Bake
Age Group: Ages 6-18
Serving Size: 50-100
Vegetable centered breakfast casserole with just enough meat to add a smoky, savory flavor.
NSLP/SBP crediting information:
¾ cup provides ⅛ cup additional
vegetable, ½ cup starchy vegetable, ⅛ cup other vegetable, and 2 oz equivalent meats/meat alternates.
January Food Celebrations
National Oatmeal Month - Brown Sugar Oatmeal
January 6 - National Bean Day: Three Bean Salad
January 24 - National Peanut Butter Day: Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Looking Ahead:
February Harvest of
the Month Highlight
>>> February
Meat/Meat Alternative - Milk
Vegetable - Root Vegetables
Celebrating Local Food
Our Harvest of the Month is taking center stage in the Local Food for School Celebration Calendar! Each month, we'll dish up delicious recipe ideas featuring the freshest local finds. This isn't just a calendar; it's your secret weapon for creating mouthwatering menus that shine a spotlight on local goodness all school year long!
WEBINARS
Forward Contracting for Local Procurement Webinar
January 22, 2025 -2:30 P.M. Eastern Time 1:30 P.M. Central Time
Forward contracting is the principle of committing to a product prior to purchase. In local procurement, these conversations typically happen in the winter or spring of the previous year, so the producer can plant according to the products you are requesting. Come and learn how this practice is used in different schools and organizations of all sizes. REGISTER HERE
Nurturing Diversity in School Gardens
February 19, 2025 - 2:00 P.M. Eastern Time 1:00 P.M. Central Time
Presenting an engaging and insightful webinar, "Nurturing Diversity in School Gardens," where we'll explore the transformative power of inclusivity and representation in educational gardening programs. This session will dive into the importance of intentional representation, uncovering and addressing unexamined practices and celebrating the rich tapestry of cultural backgrounds within our school communities. Learn practical strategies to create a welcoming and inclusive garden space that honors and reflects the diverse identities of your students. From implementing multilingual labels and hosting cultural sharing sessions to planting global gardens with crops from around the world, we'll provide you with actionable steps to foster an environment where every child feels seen, valued, and empowered. Key Takeaways: The significance of representation and its impact on student learning and engagement. Identifying and addressing unexamined practices in school garden programs. Practical tips for incorporating representation and inclusivity in your garden. Heartfelt stories and real-life examples that highlight the importance of diversity in educational spaces. Actionable steps to create a culturally rich and inclusive garden environment. REGISTER HERE
RESOURCES
Farm to School Interactive Map
Our partners at the Indiana Department of Education have been working diligently to showcase the many successful farm to school and early childhood education initiatives through their newly created interactive map. This valuable resource allows you to explore the various programs making a difference in bringing fresh, locally sourced food to Hoosier students. If your program isn't yet listed, don't worry! Simply complete the online form, and your information will be added to the map, which is updated weekly. In addition to the map, IDOE is also considering a shake-up for Indiana Food Day, traditionally celebrated in October as part of Farm to School Month. By potentially moving Food Day to different months throughout the year, schools will have the opportunity to highlight even more seasonally appropriate Indiana-grown products. To help guide these decisions, we encourage you to take a moment to complete the three-question survey provided by IDOE. As always, if you have any questions about the map or the Indiana Food Day survey, feel free to reach out to Sophie Lindley at SLindley@idoe.in.gov.
Farm to School Office Hours
Join Farm to School Coordinators from the Indiana Grown for Schools Network and other farm to school and early care stakeholders each month to discuss and find answers to your questions related to local foods. Farm to school office hours are on the third Wednesday of each month from 3:30 - 4:30 PM ET. You can request a monthly calendar hold by emailing Brianna Goode at bgoode@health.in.gov
Questions or feedback about the program?
Would love to hear from you!
Reach out to Veronica Jalomo, Farm-to-School Coordinator,
veronica@nwifoodcouncil.org, (765) 412-6136
