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March 2022: Celebrating Women's History Month
with Farm to School
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Dear Wisconsin Farm to School,
In a black and white image from 1909, Adda Howie serenades her dairy cows with a mandolin at Sunny Peak Farms in Elk Grove, Wisconsin. An influential farmer who believed in nurturing her cows to increase production, in 1925 Howie became the first woman to serve on the Wisconsin State Board of Agriculture.
In March, we celebrate Women’s History Month. This annual event is an opportunity to recognize women’s contributions to history, society, and culture. Howie may be one of Wisconsin’s most famous female farmers, but according to the U.S. Agriculture Census Data from 2017, 35 percent of Wisconsin farms have women as the principal producer and this number continues to grow.
In addition to producers, women across the state are chefs, teachers, gardeners, and stewards of the land. They are using local produce in school meals, starting garden clubs, introducing toddlers to a rainbow of vegetables, and working to ensure that our state’s youth have access to fresh produce and engaging garden-based lessons.
This month we will be highlighting resources and events that recognize women’s contributions to agriculture and honor how these women help to shape the farm to school movement.
-Erica Krug, Farm to School Director, Rooted
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Throughout the newsletter, you will see these icons after descriptions of resources, funding opportunities, and more to help you find information that is right for your program:
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Wisconsin School Garden Day is Thursday, May 19!
Let's celebrate the people and programs giving Wisconsin’s youth access to innovative, hands-on educational opportunities. You can participate in Wisconsin School Garden Day by engaging in some type of garden-based education activity or celebration on May 19, 2022 (or another day that week). Any activity that involves kids engaging with a garden or gardening–including, but not limited to, activities around planting, observing, art, literature, STEM, weeding, and planning–can be a way to celebrate Wisconsin School Garden Day. Learn more and browse the activity guide here.
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Young children want YOU to be their farmer!
Deb Moses, farmer and Rooted ECE outreach specialist, has written an article in collaboration with the Women, Food, and Agriculture Network that explores the community connections, personal fulfillment, and economic benefits found in Farm to ECE purchasing at local early care sites. This is released in conjunction with our updated Grower’s Guide (link below), which outlines all that a farmer needs to know to start selling to early care sites of any size or structure. Read more.
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Click the green joke of the month button below to see the answer to this month's joke and to see Wisconsin School Garden Network's library of past jokes.
Have a farm to school joke to share? Email Rooted's Communications Director Renata Solan at renata@rootedwi.org.
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Dig, Eat, & Be Healthy: Growing Food on Public Property
ChangeLab Solutions developed this guide to provide users with the tools they need to access public land for growing food, including special issues related to growing food on school district property. View resource.
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Rooted Garden Consultation
As the slow thaw of winter turns towards spring, Rooted can answer your early care garden and local food questions! Staff can provide resources and consultation on garden care/planning, plant selection, garden-to-meal integration, and local food purchasing for early care sites across Wisconsin. For more info, email Hawthorn at hawthorn@rootedwi.org. View Farm to ECE resources.
 
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Wisconsin Vegetable Planting Calendar
With spring just around the corner and the ground ready to thaw in parts of Wisconsin, it's time to start planning next year's garden! In addition to a comprehensive guide so you can plan what to plant handy calendar will help you make sure that some crops are ready before the end of the school year and some crops will are still thriving when kids return in September. View resource.
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Cultivating Childhood Wellness through Gardening
This free online training will take you through everything from planning your garden to growing food with kids to nutrition-based lessons in 8 accessible videos. View resource.
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Webinars, Conferences, Events & Trainings
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The Great Grow Along Virtual Garden Festival
March 11-20, 2022 // Virtual
The Great Grow Along is a free 10-day virtual garden festival that offers the experience and advice of garden industry professionals to both new and experienced gardeners, supporting them with education, connection, and fun. There will be over 35 sessions, all offering practical advice and creative inspiration. Learn more and register here.
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Seeds We Eat: Activities With Young Children
March 16, 2022 // 5:30-6:30 p.m. // Virtual
Parents and Educators! It's time to CHEW on some ideas and activities about seeds we eat. Our DUG educators have FOOD for thought on this fun topic from both cultural and garden related perspectives. Learn more and register here.
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Green Thumb Gardening – Winter Vegetable Series Online
January 10 - March 21, 2022 // Union South, Madison, WI // Virtual
The Green Thumb Gardening class series will give you the practical knowledge to keep your home garden thriving! Dane County Extension educators and local horticulture experts provide in depth and accessible information for everyone from the novice to the experienced gardener. Register for the complete class series at a discounted price. Learn more and register here.
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Culturally Responsive Place-based Education Series
Multiple Dates // Virtual
MSU Tollgate Farm is hosting a professional development series for formal and non-formal educators about learning to better incorporate the perspectives of those with whom we work in schools and educational programs. Educators have a chance to deepen their teaching practice in a safe online space for open conversation and community.
March 3, 2022 // 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Engaging with LGTBQIA+ Communities in Formal and Non-Formal Settings
April 7, 2022 // 5:30-7:30 p.m.: A Latinx Lens: Incorporating Latinx Perspectives through Place-Based Education
May 5, 2022 // 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Incorporating Asian Principles, Practices, and People in Community-Based Learning
Learn more and register here.
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SGSO Network Webinar: Indicators of Successful School Gardens
March 24, 2022 // 1:00 p.m. // Virtual
Come learn about two key pieces of research on indicators of building successful school garden programs by Associate Professor Jaimie Davis of UT Austin and Assistant Professor Kate Burt of Lehman College at the City University of New York. Learn more and register here.
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Roots, Resistance, and Reclamation
March 31, 2022 // 5:00 p.m. // Virtual
Join us for an unforgettable virtual evening event presented by Spelman College and Food Tank: Roots, Resistance, and Reclamation.
Roots: How are Black women embracing the roots of African Diasporic food systems, culture, and practices?
Resistance: How are Black women resisting the current food system through AI?
Reclamation: How are Black women reclaiming food and land?
Learn more and register here.
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Lifecycle of Farm to School Workshop Series: Building and Planting
April 7, 2022 // Virtual
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Lifecycle of Farm to School project features eight experiential workshops highlighting stages of a school garden over a year timeframe. The April workshop will focus on building and planting a garden. Learn more and register here.
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Growing School Gardens Summit
April 22-25, 2022 // Denver, CO
The Growing School Gardens Summit is a gathering designed to support shared work to strengthen the school garden movement at local and national levels so that all children and youth can have vibrant, resilient school garden programs. As the first-ever national gathering focused entirely on school gardening, the summit will unite educators and leaders to share innovations and harness our collective power for future change. Learn more and register here.
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FY 2022 Team Nutrition Training Grant for School Nutrition Professional Readiness and Retention
Deadline: March 14, 2022
The goal of this United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding is to build and retain a strong school nutrition workforce that has the knowledge, skills, and the necessary support to provide nutritious school meals during SY 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. The funding can be used to provide training, support, and educational tools needed to meet meal pattern requirements and weekly dietary specifications during School Years 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. An informational webinar on this RFA was held on Tuesday, February 8th at 3:00 PM EST. This webinar was recorded and will be posted on Team Nutrition’s website. Learn more here.
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Grant Opportunities from Center for Science in the Public Interest
Deadline: April 1, 2022
Grant opportunities are available for organizations currently working on or interested in pursuing policy campaigns. Applications should be specific to one of the priority areas (detailed below) and focused on one state, locality, US territory, or tribal geographic location.
- Policies to expand or strengthen Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Fruit and Vegetable Incentives
- Healthy Restaurant Kids’ Meals Policies
- Healthy Food Purchasing and Food Service policies for public facilities
Learn more here.
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RFA open for USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program
Deadline: April 5, 2022
The purpose of this program is to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency and the program will award up to $400 million through non-competitive cooperative agreements with state and tribal governments to support local, regional, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers through the purchase of domestic local foods. Learn more here.
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FoodCorps AmeriCorps Service Members
Deadline: March 31, 2022
Applications are open for the next class of FoodCorps AmeriCorps service members. Are you passionate about fueling kids’ bodies and minds? FoodCorps service members help kids learn about, grow, cook, and eat nourishing foods in school. They cultivate health, joy, and belonging through food in school, and nurture habits that can last a lifetime. And they build lasting partnerships with communities dedicated to healthy kids, food education, and food justice. Apply early for your best chance to get a spot. Learn more here.
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Garden Educator Training Program
Applications are now being reviewed for full-season applicants. Review will start for summer-only applicants April 15, 2022. Applications will be reviewed until all spots have been filled.
Rooted's Madison-based Garden Education Trainees will work primarily at the Troy Kids' Garden and Goodman Youth Farm. Both programs serve children and youth ages 3-18 with outdoor, garden-based learning. At each site, trainees lead small groups of children in gardening, cooking, animal care, outdoor art, and other hands-on activities. Garden Education Trainees can expect to gain experience developing and implementing garden-based curricula and activities, while developing a working knowledge of vegetable gardening and small-scale farm management. Learn more here.
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Northside Youth Employment Program Facilitator
Deadline: Application review will begin April 4, 2022 and continue until the position is filled
Rooted is seeking an enthusiastic person to facilitate an employment program for high school aged youth from June-August 2022. The facilitator will assist with creating and implementing a 10-week employment program that provides opportunities for youth to earn income working at Rooted farm and education sites. At the same time, the facilitator will guide youth through many different aspects of the food system, including agriculture, culinary arts, food justice, and community engagement. The facilitator will follow program participants' leads whenever possible to help them gain experience and develop skills around their interests while supporting them in completion of tasks at each site. Learn more here.
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Native Farm Bill Policy Roundtables
The Native Farm Bill Coalition is currently planning its 2022 policy roundtables. These in-person roundtables are an excellent opportunity to hear from Tribal producers, leaders, and stakeholders, and the feedback collected will help shape the Coalition’s policy priorities for the 2023 farm bill. The locations and dates are still currently being decided, so if your Tribe or organization would like to host a policy roundtable in your region, reach out to Lexie Holden at lexie@indianag.org. Native Farm Bill Coalition will also be offering a series of virtual listening sessions. Learn more.
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The Reach of Breakfast and Lunch: A Look at Pandemic and Pre-Pandemic Participation
FRAC’s 2022 School Breakfast and School Lunch Report found student participation in school breakfast and lunch dropped dramatically across the country when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and school nutrition programs are still recovering. February 2022 | www.frac.org. Read more.
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Many months, the newsletter will have a feature story. Our feature stories will include Farm to School tales from around the state. Want to share your story with the Wisconsin Farm to School community? Email Rooted's Communications Director Renata Solan at renata@rootedwi.org.
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Have a question or feedback about the newsletter?
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