Farm To School and School Gardens

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Farm To School and School Gardens
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Starting Farm to School and School Gardens in
Your School Community

• Start with seasonal low-hanging fruit
• Shortlist of Seasonal Options
• Highlight One Menu Component
• Engage Your Distributor

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Starting Farm to School and School Gardens in
Your School Community

• Leverage Non-Bid Flexibility
• Commit to Communicate with Farmers

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Finding Local Food

• The Oregon Farmers Market site at
  http//www.oregonfarmersmarkets.org/ and click on
  Markets in Oregon
• Find extension contacts at http//extension.oregon
  state.edu/locations.php
• Email your Farm to School and School Garden
  Coordinator joan.ottinger_at_state.or.us

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Guidelines on Food Safety

• Farmers are an approved source of food for school
  foodservice.
• Oregon Legal Requirements for Purchasing Food
  From Farms
• A Checklist for Purchasing Local Produce

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Promoting Local Food

• Engage Children
• Taste Tests
• Menu
• Featured Farmer
• Classroom Announcements
• School Newsletter
• Menu
• Hands-on Activities

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School Gardens

• Pots of herbs growing on windowsill
• Raised bed in school yard
• Linked To Community Garden / Farm
• One acre plot with greenhouse
• Curriculum

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Build A Team

• Teachers
• Parents
• School Board Wellness Committee
• Community Organizations
• Oregon Farm To School and School Garden Program

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Resources

• Minnesota Toolkit for Food Service
  http//www.mn-farmtoschool.umn.edu/
• USDA Eat Smart-Farm Fresh!
• www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Guidance/Farm-to-School-Guida
  nce_12-19-2005.pdf
• http//listsmart.osl.state.or.us/mailman/listinfo/
  farmschoolgarden

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More Resources

• National Farm-to-School Programhttp//www.farmtos
  chool.org
• http//www.lifelab.org/schoolgardens.php
• Email Joan.Ottinger_at_state.or.us for additional
  information

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