Early Childhood/Farm to Preschool

April Bosse Asheville City Schools

Preschool/Early Head StartEmily Jackson

ASAPFarm to School Institute

2012

Stand up if you…

Local food in schools

Farm field trips

School gardens

Local food cooking

www.growing-minds.org

Farm to School =Exploring food and

farms through

hands-on experience

s.

Farmer Classroom Visits and Field Trips

Assistance connecting with farmers

Curriculum connections

Training and resources for farmers and teachers

The HayrideMini-grants

School Gardens

Seeds and Gift CardsWeekly Garden

Newsletter for Educators

Workshops and Trainings

Resources and LessonsChildren’s Literature

Tastings and Cooking in the Classroom

Stipends for food Assistance sourcing

local Workshops and

Trainings Recipes, lessons, and

stickers Cooking equipment Growing Minds’ Best

Practices Guide

Local Food for Meals, Snacks, Events

Training and workshops for farmers on selling to school systems

Resources for Child Nutrition Directors and Cafeteria Managers

Get Local Materials Promotional Materials

Parent Comments

“My son was so excited about cooking and eating new things in class. Since then he tries more types of food.”

“My non-vegetable eating child came home saying he loved kale!”

“He tried new things that without having tasted them at school he probably wouldn't have had the opportunity.”

“My daughter enjoyed these projects and bragged about eating fresh veggies at the farm. She tried more raw veggies at home after the farm trip.”

“I think it’s great for children to learn where food comes from, especially since this county once produced a large number of crops and families grew their own food.”

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 0-5Childcare centers, preschool,

Head Start, daycare centers

Why Farm to Preschool?

– Early patterns are a determinant of later eating/physical activity habits

– Dramatic increases in obesity among preschoolers

– Low consumption of fruits and vegetables

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

– Rely on parents/caregivers to create food/activity environments

Farm to Preschool Research

By age 3, many children develop dislike for vegetables and are reluctant to eat or taste them (Niklas, et al. 2001)

Preference for vegetables in preschool children is a strong predictor of vegetable consumption (Birch, 1979; Harvey-Berino, et al. 1997; Morris & Zidenberg-Cherr, 2002).

Local food has a face, a connection, and a story

Gardening in the Preschool Setting

Philosophies and ApproachesGarden DesignTips and Technical InformationLessons and ActivitiesSustainability

Reasons Why Teachers Should Consider a School Garden Project

• Addresses obesity prevention and increases physical activity

• Addresses different learning styles • Builds sense of community within a

classroom/school• Can improve behaviors• Establishes environmental ethic• Promotes hands-on, interdisciplinary learning• Motivates children to learn• Can be integrated across the curriculum easily• Teaches a good life skill/leisure time activity• Great way to integrate parent participation• Can easily be adapted to teacher’s comfort level

Gardens are outdoor learning environments: Creating safe, diverse and developmentally appropriate outdoor leaning environments can offer benefits across curriculum and developmental areas.

Philosophies

Teaching by Doing

Modeling is Key: Creating positive experiences in outdoor learning environments lies not only in the physical environment but with the modeling and behavior of caregivers.

Dig In!

Let’s Get Messy! For preschoolers, gardening is all about involving kids in hands-on explorations. This means students allowing students to get dirty, dig deep into activities, turn over rocks, touch plants, and learn unfettered in a safe, dynamic outdoor environment.

Make it Edible

Let’s Eat! The most successful preschool gardens include plants that produce leaves, fruit, and roots that kids can eat (rather than just flowers). Because children will eat what they grow, the school garden is the perfect vehicle for encouraging children to try new foods.

Garden DesignKeep it simpleUse recycled materialsBuild sensory areasMake it something YOU loveIntegrate shade and sitting areasCreate an interactive space

Keep It Simple

Prepare a site

Raised Beds

Beds Directly in the Ground

Garden in Containers

Using Recycled Materials

Great Garden Children’s Books

Garden Stations

• Seed Station: sorting seeds, matching game with seed packets, guessing game with packets and seeds, pouring and touch

• Herb Station: blind smell, herb crowns• Soil/digging station: sorting and observing soil,

soil painting, exploring different types of soil (loam, clay, sand)

• Water station: water wall, water mixing, pouring and funneling,

• Insect Station: hay, rocks, leaves

Explorations

• Make a garden collection bracelet• Go on a color hunt• Search for insects• Candid camera• Letter hunt• Surprise Bag

Seasonal Activities• Waking the garden for the season (when school

starts or in the spring)• Putting the garden to bed (when school ends or in

the winter)• Covering and uncovering the garden during cool

months.• Solstice celebrations and how they relate to the

garden (winter solstice—shortest day of the year, summer—longest day of the year)

• Frost Observation

Harvest Time

• Eat it!• Make snack with the

harvest• Send it home with the

kids• Share it with

administration• Donate to people in need

Garden Resources Available

www.growing-minds.org

Sustainability

Involve parents and community

Get plants, seeds, and amendments for free

Get your administration involved

Make a routineEnjoy it!

Recruit Help From the Community

Think Outside of the Garden

Farm to School Tastings

A Farm to Preschool taste test is an event that offers students small samples of local foods, usually fresh fruits and vegetables. Anyone can organize a Farm to Preschool taste test: teachers, school administration, a chef, a parent, food service staff, a school nurse, students, etc.

Why a Farm to Preschool taste test?

• Provides students the opportunity to try a variety of foods, introducing them to foods that are locally grown and in season (and taste great!).

• Facilitates a change in food choices, thus allowing new and local foods that are accepted by students to be integrated into school snacks and meals.

• Creates positive food environments. • Encourages children to be more willing to try new

foods and home and school• Is a fun and memorable experience.

Taste and Graph• Show several

varieties of one fruit or vegetable

• Make comparisons in how they look or feel

• Taste them• Vote• Make a pictograph

of the votes

Vegetable Explorations

• Read a book about the veggie• Look at the veggie closely

(with magnifying glasses)• Touch it, smell it, draw it• Tell a story about the

vegetable• Learn more-fun facts, how it

grows, how to cook it• Try it!

Mystery TastingWhat’s this vegetable?

Tasting familiar vegetable in unfamiliar ways

Tasting new and unfamiliar vegetables

Tastings as Snack• Collaborate with your

food provider to offer suggestions for snack based on your tasting projects and curriculum. Can the food provider send carrot sticks, different types of apples, cucumbers, or other fresh fruits and vegetables for snack?

How much do tastings cost?

For a class of 20 students:Cherry tomato tasting/exploration: $4Cucumber Exploration: $3Cabbage tasting: $3-4Sweet potato tasting:$2Apple tasting (Two months): $4-6Lettuce Tasting: $3Strawberry tasting: $3-4Total: $20-25

Community Involvement

Who can help with a tasting?Parents, chefs, college students, seniors, farmers

Who can provide food for a tasting?Local grocery stores, hospitals, businesses

THANK YOU!

Emily Jacksonemily@asapconnections.orgwww.growing-minds.orgApril Bosseapril.bosse@asheville.k12.nc.us

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