Gallatin Valley Farm to School

High School Students Study Local Food System

gvf2s — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 23:10:22 +0000

What better way to learn about the food system than by experiencing it first hand? Students enrolled in the Bridger Alternative Program will have the opportunity to see local farms, talk to the farmers, and taste the bounty of Montana agriculture on Wednesday, November 9, 2011. This field trip is part of Tour de Food, an educational pilot program organized by Gallatin Valley Farm to School and Bridger Alternative School.

Bridger Alternative Program students have been critically analyzing and discussing food systems in class under the direction of their teachers and Nic Acker, a volunteer for Gallatin Valley Farm to School. With this base of knowledge, they will then see, feel, and taste a local food system by visiting two local farms—Amaltheia Dairy and Gallatin Valley Botanical.

Amaltheia Dairy raises goats for their certified-organic cheese processing plant and also raises certified-organic pigs. Gallatin Valley Botanical grows produce for local markets using crop rotation, cover crops, compost, diverse crop plantings. These practices build soil fertility while managing pests.

The students are visiting the farms at the end of the growing season, and there will still be plenty to see and discuss. The goats at Amaltheia will be happy to have visitors and the greenhouses at Gallatin Valley Botanical are still lush with baby and micro greens. This trip will connect the students with where their food comes from while learning about agricultural practices and local farms.

It is time to Celebrate Farm to School Month!

gvf2s — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:58:55 +0000

It is true, October is Farm to School Month! Schools nationwide will be celebrating this event by bringing chefs and farmers to schools, working in school gardens, enjoying local food in cafeterias, participating in local foods fundraisers (like the Harvest Montana Fundraiser), among many other exciting activities!

Gallatin Valley Farm to School wants your school to celebrate Farm to School Month too! To help you do this, we have created a Farm to School Month Activities Toolkit. These activities and materials are also a great way to extend the learning from the Harvest Montana Fundraiser into the classroom!

This toolkit includes resources available through GVF2S as well as suggested short videos, films, books, and more!

Let us know how YOU are celebrating this Farm to School Month by sending an email to: aubree@gvfarmtoschool.org.

Harvest Montana Fundraiser 2011 is Here!

gvf2s — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:48:35 +0000

The Harvest Montana Fundraiser, organized by Gallatin Valley Farm to School, is here! Beginning September 29th, students from six area schools, two school clubs, and participants in Hopa Mountain’s Youth Leadership program will be selling products that support our local agriculture while raising money for school programs, field trips, and club projects.

This year’s great selection of products includes: lentils, hot cereals, flapjack mix, honey, bison jerky, huckleberry preserves, fresh herbed delights, handmade garden tools, heirloom potatoes and garlic, chuck roast, cookies, artisan bread, and goat’s milk soap and lotion. The fundraiser arrives just in time for the holidays, making these products perfect for gifts or to add to your pantry! Check out the catalog here!

Students from Gallatin Gateway, Hawthorne, Irving, Longfellow, Whittier, Amsterdam, Chief Joseph Middle School Spring to Europe Club, Bozeman High School Sustainability Club, and Hopa Mountain’s Youth Leadership program participants will take to their neighborhoods to sell during the first few weeks in October.

Don’t miss out on these fabulous products and the opportunity to support valuable educational programs—order today! To order, choose a school or club to support and contact the appropriate organizer, listed below:

Gallatin Gateway School — Shawna Brenner — (406) 539-9778

Hawthorne Elementary School – Jenny Grossenbacher & Ann Swan – (406) 581-4659

Irving Elementary School – Sarah Steen & Brigitte Fletcher – 522-8556 & 581-1946

Longfellow Elementary – Trista Jones – (406) 451-2025

Whittier Elementary School — Susan Byorth — (406) 570-4549

Amsterdam School — Molly Stenberg & Codie Severson — 580-2729 & 580-3933

Spring to Europe — Dina Ganser — 580-7029

BHS Sustainability Club — Amy Wallner-Drake — (406) 219-1438

Hopa Youth Leadership Group — Laura Wilburn – (406) 586-2455

Not one, but TWO upcoming Farm to School Month webinars!

gvf2s — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 23:02:48 +0000

Planning on celebrating the first ever National Farm to School Month (October)? Check out these TWO great webinars for resources, inspiration, and information!

Celebrate October as National Farm to School Month with Montana’s FoodCorps Team
Thursday, October 6th 4-5pm MDT
October, 2011 marks the first ever National Farm to School Month in the United States. In Montana, a team of Americorps VISTA service members, known as Montana’s FoodCorps, are working on Farm to School endeavors in rural communities throughout the state. Join Mary Stein, Farm to School Coordinator with Montana Team Nutrition, and the Montana FoodCorps team to learn about on-the-ground Farm to School projects and resources to help with procurement of local farm fresh foods in schools.
Register online: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/402536298

Celebrating Farm to School (Through USDA)
September 29, 2011 from 3:00 – 4:00pm EST (1-3pm MDT)
Please join the USDA, National Farm to School Network and FoodCorps in celebrating Farm to School! October 2011 marks the first National Farm to School Month and National School Lunch Week (Oct. 10-14) is also focused on Farm to School, with the theme “School Lunch – Let’s Grow Healthy.” USDA will provide information on Farm to School accomplishments and upcoming plans; the National Farm to School Network will highlight future direction and introduce resources and activities to celebrate National Farm to School Month; and FoodCorps will provide an update on the first field volunteers building Farm to School and school garden programs.
Register Online: http://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/17fb9g4c886

More information and helpful resources for Farm to School Month are available online at: http://www.farmtoschoolmonth.org/

Harvest Montana Fundraiser Just Around the Corner!

gvf2s — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:22:55 +0000

Fall is almost here and so is the Harvest Montana Fundraiser! The Harvest Montana Fundraiser allows schools and clubs to raise money while supporting local farmers and artisans. The wholesome, delicious, and locally grown products available through this program may be enjoyed in the home or given as holiday gifts. There is a great line-up of quality made-in-Montana foods and goods, which you will not want to miss.

Students from Gallatin Gateway, Hawthorne, Irving, Longfellow, Whittier, Amsterdam, Chief Joseph Middle School Spring to Europe Club, and Bozeman High School Sustainability Club will take to their neighborhoods to sell starting September 29th, but specific deadlines apply for each school.

Don’t miss out on these fabulous products and the opportunity to support valuable educational programs—talk to your favorite student to see if they are participating in the Harvest Montana Fundraiser!

October is also National Farm to School month, and the Harvest Montana Fundraiser is a great way to celebrate and support farm to school endeavors.

Harvest Montana Fundraiser Featured in Webinar – Sept 22nd

gvf2s — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 23:27:35 +0000

Montana Action for Healthy Kids is proud to present Putting Kid’s Health First: Profitable and Healthy Fundraisers for Montana Schools on Thursday, September 22^nd at 12:00pm (Mountain time). This webinar features successful fundraising strategies for Montana schools that keeps student wellness in mind while raising funds for school projects or activities.

To register, to go: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/541103834

If you are unable to attend the live session, this webinar will be recorded and posted online to view at your convenience at http://healthinfo.montana.edu/RHI.html.

For connection details or any other questions, please contact:

Julia Middleton

julia.middleton@montana.edu

(406) 994-5310

Summer Lunch Fun in Full Swing!

gvf2s — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:08:29 +0000

Local school-aged kids participating in the Summer Lunch Program sponsored by the Gallatin Valley Food Bank will be exploring answers to this question in the upcoming weeks.

Volunteers of Gallatin Valley Farm to School will be leading the children in farm to school activities such as making butter, planting a bucket garden, and exploring B.O.B., the Bozone Ozone Bus – a mobile greenhouse bus created by the Bozeman Youth Initiative.

The activities will be held weekdays at Centennial Park from July 5^th through July 11^thand at the SOB Barn on the Montana State University campus from July 12^th to July 18^th. The Summer Lunch Program provides free lunches to school-aged children Monday through Friday from noon to 1:00pm throughout the summer. No pre-registration is necessary and all children under the age of 18 are welcome.

Volunteers are needed! If you want to help out, please contact Aubree at aubree@gvfarmtoschool.org today!

Free webinar: Planting the Seeds of Healthy Eating through School Gardens

gvf2s — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 15:40:28 +0000

Interest in schools gardens is on the rise nationally and here in Montana. School gardens provide an experiential classroom for endeavors across the curriculum while supporting healthy eating and nutrition among school children. Through this webinar learn about some basic steps in creating a school garden, ideas for connecting the school garden to the cafeteria, and some exciting garden-based learning curriculum resources. Case study examples of Montana-grown school garden projects will be shared throughout the webinar. The Montana Rural Health Initiative and this webinar is brought to you by: Montana Rural Health, Montana State University, Schering-Plough, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana.

Webinar Presenters:
Mary Stein – Montana Team Nutrition Program, Montana State University

Jason Mandala - Community Education Director, Garden City Harvest, Missoula

Heather Musselman – Irving School Garden, Bozeman

Greg Owens – Executive Director, Bozeman Youth Initiative (Greenhouse Bus Project)

Robin Vogler – School Food Service Director, Somers Lakeside School District #29

If you are unable to attend the live session, this webinar will be recorded and posted online to view at your convenience. Please contact Carolyn Pollari to receive the link. For connection details or any other questions, please contact:

Carolyn Pollari
cpollari@montana.edu
(406) 994-5310

Farm to School Champions Network Meeting – April 5!

gvf2s — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 23:51:14 +0000

Are you getting ready to spring forth with a farm to school project at your school? Want some inspiration from other local groups who are getting farm fresh food into cafeterias, growing gardens on school grounds, and teaching children about agriculture, nutrition, and food? Come spend an evening discussing the possibilities, challenges and solutions with Gallatin Valley Farm to School and other folks from the area.

This Farm to School Champions Network meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 5th in the Bozeman Public Library’s community room. Come at 6:00pm to network or watch the B.O.B. Greenhouse Bus documentary, and join us from 6:30 to 8:00pm for the meeting. The meeting will include short presentations from local projects as well as a time for breakout sessions. The Farm to School Champions Network’s purpose is to cultivate a strong network of farm to school projects so we can share the knowledge and grow together!

This event is free and open to the public, but limited space is available, please RSVP. Light refreshments will be provided. To RSVP or if you have questions, please contact Aubree at aubree@gvfarmtoschool.org.

Read more about highlighted projects from our community in the Farm to School Champions Newsletter.

Food For Thought: 5 Myths About School Food

gvf2s — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 19:05:10 +0000

After the passage of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act, Janet Poppendieck, author of the book Free For All, published 5 Myths About School Food in the Washington Post. It is a great read! Check it out at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/17/AR2010121702561.html.