Farm to School: May 2024 Newsletter
Celebrating Local Food for Schools
As the warm spring sunshine bathes our communities, we enter the beautiful month of May in our Local Food for Schools program. The NWI Food Council and Region Roots Team would like to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for your incredible dedication and tireless efforts throughout the school year. Your commitment to nourishing students with healthy, local food has been instrumental in fostering a thriving farm-to-school connection!
We appreciate the food heroes for nourishing students with fresh, local food! You fuel their bodies and minds, helping them reach their full potential.
School Spotlight: Duneland School Corporation
The Duneland School Corporation's Child Nutrition Department took a significant step towards incorporating fresh, locally-grown produce into its school lunch program this academic year by acquiring its first hydroponic garden unit. This initiative aligns with the growing Farm-to-School movement, which emphasizes connecting schools with local farms and producers to enhance the quality and freshness of food served to students.
Additionally, Child Nutrition Director, Tammy Watkins recently secured a grant from the Indiana Department of Health to purchase four more hydroponic units. This expansion will allow even more students to participate in the program and experience the benefits of growing their own food. The inclusion of classroom teachers in the project further strengthens the educational component, allowing students to learn about hydroponics and plant science in a hands-on environment.
The use of hydroponic gardening offers several advantages for school-based programs. Each unit is self-contained and easy to maintain, requiring minimal space and resources. The provided rockwool starter cubes, seeds, water testing kits, and nutrients ensure a controlled growing environment that is ideal for producing fresh lettuce for school meals. With seeds sprouting within just three days, the hydroponic system offers a quick and reliable method for cultivating fresh produce throughout the school year.
May Food Celebrations
May is National Salsa Month
May 13 - National Hummus Day
May 29 - National Biscuit Day
FEATURED FARM
>>> RAINFIELD FARM
Learn more about where your lettuce mix for your schools comes from.
Born in 2012, Rainfield Farm practices small scale farming on thirteen acres of land, one of which is used for growing produce and flowers. The fields are strategically placed to minimally impact the natural landscape of pines and rolling hills.
We're a certified naturally grown farm which prevents the use of pesticides and synthetic chemicals. We rely heavily on composting and soil conditioning through cover crops, green manure and crop rotations. Our farm is a USDA conservation partner (EQIP) specifically our pollinator fields and we're a partner of the Indiana Grown initiative.
We are a small farm that sells fresh and healthy vegetables directly to restaurants and grocery stores. Our flower and vegetable CSA membership program allows you to enjoy our produce straight from the farm. Stay with us in our cozy tiny home, surrounded by lush green fields or join us for farm picnics and visit our onsite farm store.
Our mission is to bring the freshest and most delicious produce to your table while promoting sustainable and responsible farming practices. We are passionate about growing food the right way, and we believe in the importance of knowing where your food comes from and who grows it.
UPDATES
Local Food for Schools Program Feedback
We will be conducting surveys in May to gather your feedback on:
Your experience with the Local Food for Schools program
The quality and variety of local produce and food available
Program logistics and communication
Suggestions for improvement
There are three ways you can participate in the survey:
Phone Interview: We will be scheduling brief phone interviews with a member of our team.
Virtual Meeting: For a more in-depth conversation, you can choose to participate in a virtual meeting.
Digital Survey: A digital survey will also be available for your convenience.
Please note: We will be contacting you soon to schedule your phone interview or virtual meeting at a time that is convenient for you.
Your participation is greatly appreciated! Your feedback will be used to make informed decisions about the future of Local Food Procurement for schools. If you have any questions in the meantime, please don't hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your time and dedication!
LFS Funding Availability for Summer Programs
LFS funds are available for specific summer programs but with some limitations. These funds can only be used by School Food Authorities (SFAs) currently operating either the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or the School Breakfast Program (SBP). This includes programs like Seamless Summer Option and NSLP Afterschool Snacks, as these are all considered components of the NSLP.
Important Restriction: LFS and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
Please note: If an SFA already operates NSLP and/or SBP, they cannot use LFS funds in conjunction with the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). LFS funds are only available for SFAs operating under the Seamless Summer Option.
TRAININGS
June 18 -19 Indiana Farm to School Symposium - Hendricks County
The Indiana Department of Education is pleased to invite all Pre K-12 and ECE educators, food service staff, school administrators, farmers , child nutrition professionals, local food advocates, and interested community members to a collaborative learning experience.
RESOURCES
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