Farm to Preschool

101Stacey Sobell Williams, MPH

Farm to School Coordinator, EcotrustPortland, Oregon

Western Lead Agency, National Farm to School Network

Agenda

• Introduction to farm to preschool• Farm to Head Start pilot in Oregon• Increasing procurement of local

foods• Farm Field Trips• Gardening with young children• Curriculum…

Introduction to Farm to Preschool

What is Farm to Preschool?

• Farm to School:– Connects local food producers and

processors with the school cafeteria or kitchen

– Food- and garden-based education in the classroom, lunchroom, and community

• Ages 0-5• Childcare centers, preschool, Head

Start, daycare centers, in-home care

• Dramatic increases in obesity among preschoolers

• Low consumption of fruits and vegetables• Food deserts = lack of access to fresh

fruits and vegetables• Fresh food = healthy food• Other benefits:

– Local economy– Environment

Why Farm to Preschool?

Why Farm to Preschool? Continued…

• Rely on caregivers to create food/activity environments

• Consume as much as 80% of daily nutrients in childcare

• Early patterns are a determinant of later eating habits

• K-12 Farm to School movement strong

• Prepare preschoolers for farm to school programs as they enter K-12

Credit: Emily Jackson, ASAP, 2008

Why Farm to Preschool? Continued…

Why Head Start?

•Vulnerable population

•Parental involvement

•Curriculum is experiential = a good fit

Ecotrust Farm to School

Ecotrust’s Farm to Head Start Pilot

Program•Oregon Child Development Coalition•3 pilot sites•Goals and activities:

–Connections with local farmers and food processors

– Incorporation of more healthy local fruits and vegetables and other foods

–Promote food- and garden-based education

Pilot Program Outcomes

• Farm and food processor field trips:– Salad greens, strawberries– Local, preservative and HFCS-free chili– Inspired ideas: sugar-free local fruit cups

• Early Sprouts curriculum (www.earlysprouts.org)– Sensory exploration, tasting, cooking

activities– Parental involvement, hands-on

participatory

Farm to Childcare into the Future…

• OCDC planted gardens, started a blog

• Replicable modelAmericorps member, teachers, and kids at OCDC’s Silverton learning and nutritional garden

Photo credit: http://ocdcgardens.blogspot.com/

Procuring More Local

Foods

Increasing Local Procurement: Models

1. Direct from farmers2. Work with farmers cooperatives3. Farmer’s markets4. Traditional wholesalers

Note: As of October 1, 2008, the NSLA allows institutions receiving funds through the CNP to apply a geographic preference when procuring unprocessed locally grown or raised agricultural products. You can access the memo here:

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/governance/Policy-Memos/2008/SP_30-2008.pdf

Adapted from: USDA Food & Nutrition Service, Eat Smart—Farm Fresh!, 2005

• Start small• Review menus/regulations• Decide on the best model:

– Meet with your distributor– Identify local farms, food processors,

markets (“adult field trips”)– Communicate clearly and be flexible

Steps to Increase Local Procurement

Adapted in part from: Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Farm to School Field Guide for Food Service

http://www.caff.org/programs/FSDguide.pdf

2008 field trip with OCDC childcare partners to Truitt Brothers processing plant in Salem, OR

How do you procure?

*Where do you get most of your food?*Have you procured or tried to procure local

food?*What barriers have you encountered?

Troubleshooting Procurement

Troubleshooting Procurement

• Problems:– Too expensive– Distributor inflexible or few local options

• Solutions:– Set financial guidelines, develop annual

goals, start small, buy seasonally– Demand more local, renegotiate

contract, leverage off-contract flexibility

Adapted in part from: Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Farm to School Field Guide for Food Service

Troubleshooting Procurement continued…

• Problems:– Kids won’t eat new foods– Little support or even opposition

• Solutions:– Farm or farmer’s market field trips, tasting

days, use produce from on-site garden– Build a team! Communicate challenges

and benefits. Promote what you are doing!

Adapted in part from: Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Farm to School Field Guide for Food Service

• Online directory and marketplace for regional buyers/sellers of food

• Helps to streamlime procurement and promotion

• Launched February 2010• Focus on Oregon and Washington

www.food-hub.org

Farm Field Trips

Farm Field Trips

• Try to go to the farm that supplies the food to the Head Start center

• Make sure you have access to bathrooms

• Dress appropriately and come prepared (water, name tags, sunscreen)

• Provide authentic experiences – let the children do something real

• Make an inclement weather planCredit: Emily Jackson, ASAP, 2008

Credit: Emily Jackson, ASAP, 2008

Establishing Head Start

Gardens

Benefits of Gardens

• Naturally calms and reduces stress• Can help to manage ADHD• Promotes exploration and discovery• Great fit with experiential education• Motivates and increases activity

Credit: Diana Vandenbussche, Child Development Associates, 2009

Establishing Gardens

Challenge #1•Staff unfamiliar with or resistant to gardening

Possible Solutions•Have a fun training•Require teachers to incorporate gardening into their lesson plans every day

•See if cooperative extensions, Victory Gardens, or any other groups offer mentors

•Find an easy gardening curriculum (next presentation)

Credit: Diana Vandenbussche, Child Development Associates, 2009. Photo Credit: Emily Jackson, ASAP, 2008

Challenge #2• Lack of money and resources

Possible Solutions• Have garden fundraisers • See if parents are willing to donate time• Grants (Stacey’s list) or request in-kind

donations of supplies (e.g., Home Depot)

Establishing Gardens

Credit: Diana Vandenbussche, Child Development Associates, 2009

Other Challenges• Physical obstacles

Placement of preschool buildings No dirt area or space for gardenNot enough shade/too much shadeNo hose connections outsideLack of people power for digging up space, etc.Not enough or the right equipmentAnimal /insect invasions!Certain types of plants may be toxic (e.g., no

nightshades – tomatoes, peppers, potatoes)

Establishing Gardens

Credit: Diana Vandenbussche, Child Development Associates, 2009

Possible Solutions• Grow plants indoors or just sprout

seeds on windowsill• Buy or build raised bed boxes for patio

areas• Let children fill small watering cans to

water plants inside or out• Enlist parents to water on weekends

and help with physical labor starting garden

Establishing Gardens

Credit: Diana Vandenbussche, Child Development Associates, 2009

Opportunities• Include a sand or soil box nearby for non-

garden play• Plant with the senses in mind, use lots of

color• Consider planting fruit bushes/trees• Cook with what you grow or at least taste

it

Establishing Gardens

Credit: Emily Jackson, ASAP, 2008

Don’t forget…

•Be a good role model – eat your veggies!

•Document your work and promote it to parents, the community, and the media

Photo Credit: Emily Jackson, ASAP, 2008