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Advocates supportive of Legislation that would increase the amount of Local Food in Schools Speak Out at Stonewall Farm Event

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PRESS RELEASE
1/12/21

For immediate release
Contact:
Roe-Ann Tasoulas
Director
coordinator@mfccoalition.org
(c) (603) 852-3198

Monadnock Farm & Community Coalition

Join farmers, educators, and bill sponsors as they come together to advocate on behalf of legislation that would increase local food in schools on Friday, January 21, 2021, from 12:00 to 1:00 PM at Stonewall Farm in Keene. House Bill 1657, or “Local Food for Local Schools Reimbursement Bill” aims to increase the amount of New Hampshire-grown food that’s served in public schools. 

This bipartisan effort sets a statewide target that 10 percent of the food served in schools will be grown in the state. 

According to Rep. Alexis Simpson, an Exeter Democrat, and bill co-sponsor, “Under the proposal, schools that purchase local food would be eligible for reimbursement from federal nutrition funding. We want to increase the number of schools that can spend money on local food, as well as the total amount of money spent in the New Hampshire agricultural economy."

The reimbursement program will incentivize NH school districts and food service directors to purchase locally grown and produced food for breakfast and lunch services in cafeterias, boosting youth health and wellness and agricultural viability. 

“The Bill will annually channel $1.8 million in federal and state funds directly into our farm and food economy, supporting local farmers and producers which, in turn, will support our local economies,” adds Roe-Ann Tasoulas, director of the Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition. “And our school children will enjoy the benefit of eating even more healthy, locally produced food at cafeteria meals – it’s a major win-win for everyone."

In addition to federal funding, the program would also require some state investment in a software program the Department of Education would use to administer the program.

Fresh milk and cookies will be served at the event. 

To email your legislators in support of House Bill 1657, go to https://nhhungersolutions.org/advocacy

The Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition is a coalition of 140+ member organizations and individual members who come together regularly to build a robust, sustainable, and equitable local food system in the Monadnock Region of Southwestern NH.

New Hampshire Farm to School Network is made up of interested Farm to School players from all regions, and across sectors including educators, food service, and procurement. The network will strengthen the ability of Farm to School programs around NH to collaborate on key issues like funding, finding resources and tools, sharing contacts, and brainstorming.

How Gardening Helps Your Mental Health

Guest Writer: Andrea Poteet-Bell, Sunshine Behavioral Health

We should all take our mental health seriously. But many people today struggle with a variety of mental health challenges including excessive stress, depression, and anxiety. Due to the impact that mental health can have on your life, finding ways to manage and improve it is paramount. One strategy is to participate in healthy activities, such as gardening, that allow you to focus your energy on something positive. Gardening is a great way for adults, children, and people of all ages to manage their mental health.

Focus on Tasks at Hand

One of the ways that gardening can help with your mental health is by allowing you to focus on the task at hand instead of dwelling on the past and worrying about the future. Finding a way to concentrate on something will take your mind off worries and other negative thoughts.

Good Exercise

If you want to improve your mental health, you should consider getting regular exercise. While it can feel difficult to get started, exercising is a great way to boost your mood and beat stress. Gardening is a great form of exercise because it requires a lot of moving, digging, and sometimes hauling bags of soil. This can help you burn calories and improve your mood. And because modifications like sitting on a pillow or using a wheelbarrow to move heavy objects are available, it’s a great option for people with limited mobility.

Socialization

Gardening is also a great way to spend time outdoors with your family and bond over a shared interest. When you truly enjoy an activity, you’re excited to share it with others. And spending quality time with friends and family is a great way to reduce stress. It’s almost impossible to feel stressed when you’re laughing with loved ones.  

Satisfaction of Job Well Done

Gardening also lets you enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done. One way to instantly feel better is to achieve something. And gardening lets you see the results of your work literally grow before your eyes. Seeing the plants you cared for develop throughout the season will help you feel a sense of accomplishment that can improve your self-esteem and quell feelings of hopelessness. 

Anyone that is struggling with mental health issues should consider taking up new hobbies and exercise programs to help. Gardening is one great option. No matter what activity you choose, focusing on something you enjoy that lets you see the results of your work can help you work through life’s problems and feel better. 

Sources

 Agrilifetoday.tamu.edu - Gardening can influence and benefit your mental health

Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov - Gardening for health: a regular dose of gardening

Andrea Poteet-Bell is a journalist and editor. Her writing has appeared in local daily newspapers, alternative weeklies, and websites across the country. She graduated from the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a degree in print journalism and lives in Michigan with her husband and their dog, Charlie Brown.

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The Lunch Monitor: Increased 3SquaresVT Benefits and the Continued Importance of Universal School Meals

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In October 2021, 3SquaresVT benefits increased in Vermont and around the country thanks to important changes made by the federal government to the food stamp program. This is the largest increase in benefits since the program began, which seems like good news for food-insecure families in our community, but there is more to the story.

Unfortunately, recent inflation rates in the US have also climbed to their highest in more than 30 years, which puts increased pressure on low-income families. The new maximum 3SquaresVT benefit per person for a family of 4 is now $6.86 per day. The average meal cost in Vermont is $3.60 per meal, so these benefits cover just 64% of their food costs for a family who is receiving the maximum benefit.

Veggie Van Go pickup

How do families in our community make up the difference? Many families rely on local food pantries like Foodworks and programs like the Vermont Foodbank’s Veggie Van Go Program for meals at home. For families with school-aged children, the fact that school breakfast and lunch are free again this year thanks to a temporary pandemic waiver from the USDA reduces financial stress for families.

School meals looks different than when we were kids!

There is currently a statewide effort to bring universal school meals to every public school in Vermont, to make breakfast and lunch free for all students permanently. 38.6% of families in Windham Southeast Supervisory Union (WSESU) receive 3SquaresVT benefits; therefore if universal meals were to become permanent in WSESU, that would directly benefit approximately 423 students in our district who might not otherwise have adequate nutrition to help them succeed in school. Additionally, 54% of eligible Vermonters are reluctant to apply for 3SquaresVT due to stigma, making programs like universal school meals even more crucial to the health of children and families in our community who are not receiving benefits. Multiple studies have confirmed that universal meals improve student learning, behavior, and health, reducing stigma in schools, and fostering a positive learning environment. Click here to show your support for universal meals.

New Chapter + Food Connects = Farm to School Success

There are so many reasons to be grateful this time of year. Most importantly is our health—including the health of our families, friends, community members, and land. So, in reflecting on the theme of health, Food Connects turns to one of our longstanding partners and sponsors, New Chapter, to express our gratitude.

New Chapter is on a mission to revolutionize natural wellness. Located in Brattleboro, VT, New Chapter produces non-GMO wellness supplements, provides over 150 jobs to area residents, and helps us create a vibrant local economy.  New Chapter is also a Certified B Corporation, meaning they “define success in holistic terms that encompass not just profit, but people and Earth, too.”

When we think about organizations in our community that focus on the health of our community, we can’t help but think of New Chapter. Their dedication to sustainable sourcing and waste reduction heals the earth. Their commitment to creating healthful products for our wellbeing heals our bodies. And their support of organizations like the Vermont Foodbank, The Warrior Connection, Sacred Seeds, and Food Connects helps heal our communities. Their alignment with Food Connects mission and values makes them a perfect partner for our organization.

Food Connects is incredibly lucky to have partnered with New Chapter for so many years. Not only has New Chapter supported the organization as a whole and our Food Hub fleet development, but they are also a customer—purchasing our regionally sourced foods for their staff. This year, New Chapter explicitly supported our Farm to School program and its future growth. 

Outdoor learning at Academy School.

As the landscape around COVID-19 shifts dramatically, our Farm to School program has seen tremendous challenges and opportunities. We’ve seen outdoor learning, home meal box deliveries, and individual seed kits be a success for schools. With New Chapter’s support, our Farm to School team is nimble and ready to respond to the needs of our local schools to help provide the best possible Farm to School experiences for our students.

Thank you to New Chapter for your support of Food Connects!

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Meet Our New Farm to School Program Manager—Sadie Hunter

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Food Connects is excited to introduce Sadie Hunter as the newest member of the Farm to School (FTS) team. Sadie joins the team as the new Farm to School Program Manager. Sadie brings with her valuable experience in curriculum development, grant management, and fresh energy.

Sadie took time to answer some questions so you can get to know her better!

What sparked your interest in Food Connects and why are you excited to be here?

I am super passionate about farm-based education and Farm to School work, so when I saw that Food Connects was hiring I was really excited. I am so grateful to join the thriving Farm to School community here in Vermont and to be a part of Food Connects in general because what this organization is doing is so well aligned with my own passions and goals. In my experience, learning about food systems is very intuitive for children, and I think that this kind of learning really empowers kids to continue asking questions and learning about the world around them.  

Why is the local food movement important to you?

It is becoming more and more important for us to get serious about consuming locally grown, ideally in season, foods as we continue to see the impacts of climate change. It is not only better for the environment for us to eat local, but it also creates stronger local economies and allows people to be more invested in the places in which they live. Additionally, it is so important to acknowledge the fact that often there are many people and communities that are left out of this narrative. I believe that making local food movements more financially, physically, and culturally accessible for everyone is a crucial step in addressing inequity in our food system, and in our country overall. 

What do you see for the future of Food Connects and what you will do here? What are your hopes/dreams for this position?

I would love to see our Farm to School program continue to expand—specifically I see opportunities for us to provide support in Bennington and in the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire. The more kids who get the opportunity to play in the dirt (and learn about/grow food in the process) at school the better! I am also passionate about supporting BIPOC farmers and educators in this field and I am really looking forward to seeing what new ways we can continue to incorporate considerations of equity and food justice into our daily work.

How will your previous Farm to School and education experience impact your work at Food Connects?

I think that my work experience lends itself really well to the work I will be doing here at Food Connects. I have spent time as an educator in both afterschool and more traditional classroom settings, which gives me a good understanding of the struggles that teachers and youth-serving organizations face—and also a good understanding of the massive joy that is working with children. In some of these roles, I created STEM curriculum that was centered around garden-based learning and incorporated different levels of discussion around food justice and nutrition. I have also worked on vegetable farms and in food and beverage services which I find gives me a unique perspective when looking at how we can strengthen community relationships and support many different stakeholders in our communities.

How do you spend your time outside of work?

I love to hike, garden and play board games! I am also really interested in learning more about herbs as medicine and enjoy making herbal tinctures in my free time.

What is your favorite or least favorite food?

I love anything stir-fry-related—it’s so versatile!

If you could pick up a new skill in an instant what would it be?

I think I would choose to become instantly fluent in Spanish - I took many years of Spanish classes, but I have always struggled to keep my proficiency.

What’s your favorite place of all the places you’ve traveled?

That’s really tricky, but I would say Antigua, Guatemala! I was surrounded by super great people—and of course volcanoes, which was amazing for a geology nerd like me. I also loved the lakes, mountains, and architecture—beautiful colors everywhere you look. 

Central Elementary Embraces Farm to School

Central Elementary in Bellows Falls is excited to be able to expand their Farm to School (FTS) programming by joining the Northeast Farm to School Institute this year! In October, second graders took on a leadership role as they taught their peers about carrots. The students were wrapping up an ongoing project in which they harvested, researched, and painted carrots, and then presented what they learned to students in grades kindergarten through fourth! At the end of the week, Food Service Professional Erica Frank cooked up a carrot cake breakfast cookie as a special breakfast item highlighting carrots grown in the school garden. 

This deep dive into project-based learning and authentic teaching is one example of the exemplary Farm to School programming happening at Central Elementary School. This Bellows Falls area school is the latest in Windham County to join the Northeast Farm to School Institute. The Institute, which runs from Summer 2021-Summer 2022 is a year-long professional development opportunity offered by Vermont FEED. It gives school teams the time and guidance to form a Farm to School Action Plan and decide how they want to implement Farm to School in their community. The Institute also provides schools with a grant and coaching to get their programs off the ground.

Asked about why they were interested in joining the Institute, 2nd-grade teacher Judy Verespy remarked, “I think FTS helps students make the connection that eating well supports their learning and their health. I am also hoping they learn that it connects us with farmers in our community and helps support their important businesses. It truly is a win-win!”

This fall students have also harvested vegetables, planted garlic, and prepared the garden for winter. Future plans include hosting farmers as guest speakers, expanding their growing capacity, and continuing to create community through student-to-student teaching. And this work is already showing an impact. As Verespy shared, “One way FTS has impacted our school thus far is generating excitement and interest in fuelling our bodies properly. I see students reading nutrition labels and bringing or choosing fresh fruits and vegetables for snacks more often!”

Thank you to Vermont FEED for supporting so many schools with this program and Chroma Technology for sponsoring Central Elementary’s attendance at the institute this year. And, thank you to Central Elementary for your inspiring work!

Want to try those tasty-sounding Carrot Cake Breakfast Cookies? Check out the recipe below!

Carrot Cake Breakfast Cookies

*adapted from “Love Real Food” magazine

1 cup oats

1 cup white whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground ginger

1 ½ cups peeled and grated carrots

1 cup toasted sunflower seeds

¼ cup raisins or dried cranberries

½ cup honey or maple syrup

½ cup oil-coconut or vegetable

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

  2. In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and ginger.  Whisk to blend.  Add in the carrots, raisins, sunflower seeds and stir to combine.

  3. In a medium bowl, combine honey or maple syrup with the oil.  Whisk until blended.  Pour wet mixture into the dry, and stir until just combined.  The dough will appear very wet.

  4. Drop a small spoonful of the mixture onto the baking trays; leaving 2 inches between each scoop.  Using the palm of your hand, gently flatten the cookie to about ¾ inch thickness.

  5. Bake until the cookies are golden and firm around the edges, about 15-17 minutes. Allow to cool on a baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer to a baking rack to cool completely. Leftover cookies will keep, covered, at room temperature for about 2 days; 5 days in the refrigerator, and 3 months in the freezer.

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Westminster Center School Celebrates Farm and Field Day

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Stuffing scarecrows, painting pumpkins, cooking lunch over hot coals, and playing musical chairs… These are not your everyday school activities. But this is how the students at Westminster Center School spent the morning of October 29, when they celebrated their first Farm and Field Day. 

Students from grades K-6 took part in six different activities crafted to link students to the outdoors and celebrate the harvest season. In addition to the excitement of scarecrows, pumpkins, and musical chairs (renamed “Boo-tiful Music!” in honor of the holiday), students went on a story walk, harvested kale from the garden for lunch, watched working farm equipment in action, and watched as the chicken for their kale salad cooked over coals in the outdoor cinder block kitchen, the “Cinder Cafe,” built especially for this event.

Despite the frigid temperatures, students were excited to be outside. “The best part is you get to have fresh air!” remarked Scarlett, a second-grader. “I’m having fun! It’s very fun!” exclaimed first-grader Anthony Lakeside. And fourth-grader Jenny said her favorite activity of the day was harvesting kale. “You get to peel all the leaves off!”

The librarian and Garden Coordinator, Mandy Walsh, said she was inspired by a similar event at Newbrook Elementary several years ago. Mandy has been growing the Farm to School program at Westminster for years and was excited to host her first Farm and Field Day. “We are so lucky to have the resources of gardens, animals, woods, and fields, and we live in a historically agricultural community. The day was about celebrating what's around us, coming together as a school community, and being joyful.” In reflecting on the success of the event, Mandy remarked, “I think that in the big picture, the best student learning happens when students get to be outside, working together, trying new things (food and activities). These are the days our students remember with fondness when they think back on their elementary school days.”

The Farm to School Team at Westminster is already planning future events and is flush with ideas of building on the tradition they’ve started. One thought was that perhaps next year, the sixth-graders could lead the stations rather than the teachers. Cheers to Westminster Center School for growing and cultivating leaders in the Farm to School Movement!

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Cross-Pollination Gathering for School Garden Coordinators

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Sarah Rosow searches for a cukamelon in the students snacking garden.

Garden Coordinators from five Windham County Farm to School programs gathered at Guilford Central School for a “Cross-Pollination” event in late October. Garden Coordinators, often somewhat isolated in their unique roles, had the opportunity to share ideas, challenges, and successes with each other as they prepare for winter activities in the classroom.   

More and more area schools have hired Garden Coordinators in recent years, finding that they are a key component to a thriving Farm To School program. In addition to taking care of the gardens with support from students and volunteers, they also plan and execute educational activities around gardening and cooking and facilitate teacher and student involvement in FTS programming.  

Sarah Rosow explains to Mandy Walsh how the Kelly Kettle works—a wonderful tool for making tea in the garden!

Sarah Rosow, Guilford’s Garden Coordinator since 2018, hosted the event, showing the visitors the school’s three different garden areas, the outdoor classrooms, and concluding with a “show and tell” of sorts where Coordinators discussed useful equipment for cooking outdoors, curriculum guides, and sample lessons. Everyone was inspired by Sarah’s “snacking garden” where students are able to snack freely on mint, cherry tomatoes, and adorable cukamelons growing on her archway. 

As they toured the campus, Garden Coordinators discussed their roles at their schools and what makes their programs unique. While Guilford’s program excels at innovative outdoor teaching, Mandy Walsh of Westminster Center School offered the details of her upcoming Farm and Field Day—an event 3 years in the making, where students will participate in six different Farm to School stations. Kathy Cassin of Academy School spoke about her after-school cooking and gardening club while also gathering ideas about deterring the deer that had been eating all of Academy’s beautiful greens. After hearing that Mandy had some success with growing a border wall, she remarked, “that's good to know because it’s been so frustrating losing our greens!” 

Sarah Rosow demonstrates using a pull chopper, which she uses to make fresh salsa and pesto in the garden.

Erica Frank of Central Elementary, a registered dietician and current Food Service Professional at the school, spoke about the value of getting kids involved in cooking.  Amy Duffy, the new Garden Coordinator at Newbrook Elementary, agreed. “Giving kids a little more control over their eating then leads to better choices.” Amy also shared that she works with each grade once per week. Sarah Rosow responded, “I’d like to pick Amy's brain a little more in terms of the scope and sequence, and also just learning how she works in every grade level every week and how she manages that because I’d like to move toward that model.”

Everyone gained new ideas from this gathering, and it was clear at the end of the event that everyone had so much more expertise to share and so many more questions to discuss. In response, Food Connects looks forward to hosting more Cross-Pollination for Garden Coordinator events for our member schools throughout this school year.