TEAM NUTRITION RESOURCES

The USDA's Team Nutrition has released two exciting new curriculum resources!

Dig In! helps kids, teachers, and parents explore a world of possibilities in the garden and on the plate using ten inquiry-based lessons that engage 5th and 6th graders in growing, harvesting, tasting, and learning about fruits and vegetables. Dig In! also includes a gardening guide, booklets for parents/caregivers, and six dynamic posters encouraging fruit and vegetable choices using themes that appeal to older elementary school children.                     

The Great Garden Detective Adventure is focused on discovering what fruits and vegetables are sweetest, crunchiest, and juiciest through a series of investigations and fun experiences connecting the school garden to the classroom, school cafeteria, and home. This eleven-lesson curriculum for 3rd and 4th grades includes bulletin board materials, veggie dice, fruit and vegetable flash cards, and ten issues of Garden Detective News for parents/caregivers.

We are working to upload both of these resources to our website!! Please check with us soon at scfarmtoschool.com!!

MIDLANDS CHOPPED!!

Recently, Lexington-Richland 5 recreated the Food Network's "Chopped" program. There were five teams of cafeteria workers from HE Corley, Crossroads Middle, Irmo High, Chapin Middle and Dutch Fork High. All teams used USDA approved ingredients, pantry items and a local mystery ingredient.

Irmo High won with a plate of sauteed chicken topped with mango slices, steamed collards, fried tomato and pasta salad with chopped kale and red peppers!! GO YELLOW JACKETS!!

We love all the ways SC schools are incorporating new nutrition guidelines and creating fabulous meals for students. Please share with us stories and ways your school cafeteria is changing!!

Butterfly Program at Carolina Children's Garden

Join the Richland County Extension Agency and the Richland County Master Gardener on Saturday, May 18th for the BUTTERFLY PROGRAM at Carolina Children's Garden.

Cost is $8.00 per child and includes a live caterpillar, host plant and butterfly booklet.  Space is limited, so please pre-register at carolinachildrensgarden.org.

SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE DIRECTORS!!

The USDA is conducting a "Farm to School Census" that will survey over 13,000 school districts to determine how many schools buy local! The survey will help the USDA make efficient use of Farm to School funds.

To participate and learn more:  http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/f2s/f2s-census.htm

Kids Summer Cooking Day Camp-Healthy Hands Cooking

Enter now to win a FREE week at "Kids Summer Cooking Day Camp" (June 24-27), hosted by Healthy Hands Cooking in Columbia!!!

Day 1:  Healthy Snacking

Day 2:  Healthy Breakfasts

Day 3:  Healthy Lunches

Day 4:  Healthy Substitutions for our Favorite Foods

The contest is open to kids ages 5-13 and is open until June, 17.  

For more information:  http://www.healthyhandscooking.com/kids-summer-cooking-camp-contest.html

BEST OF LUCK!

Seed Starting with Mini Greenhouses!

For the most part, starting plants from seeds is fairly easy...however, sometimes seeds need a little extra nurturing.  A solution is to use a homemade DIY mini greenhouse!

You can start with any container, so long as it has draining holes.  Fill the container with your favorite seed-starting soil and leave about an inch of room at the top.  Sow and water your seed.  Then, cover your container with some plastic wrap and secure with a rubber band.  The plastic should be removed as soon as the seed sprouts!

Enjoy :) 

(DIY idea taken from a blog on Kitchen Gardeners International:  http://kgi.org/blog/davehames/seed-starting-mini-greenhouses)

Upcoming School Gardens Webinar on APRIL 15!!!

Webinar 4/15

Skills of a Successful School Garden Coordinator A new posting from The edWeb Team (edWeb.net)

Join us for the next Growing School Gardens webinar!
Skills of a Successful School Garden Coordinator Monday, April 15, 2013- 4pm / Eastern Time
In This Session

What skills are required to manage a successful school garden program?

Join us for our community's next webinar when Sam Ullery, School Garden Specialist at the Office of the State Superintendent of Education in Washington, DC will outline a framework of skills that contribute to a well-managed, effective school garden program. This framework can be used as a guide for your school garden program to help you to take full advantage of your school garden as an outdoor classroom. Additionally, two DC school garden coordinators will provide concrete examples of how putting these skills into practice has positively impacted their school garden programs. Join Sam Ullery, Kate Lee, and Kealy Rudersdorf on April 15 to learn the skills required to manage a successful school garden program.

To Participate in the Live Session

- Login at www.instantpresenter.com/edwebnet11 at the scheduled time.

- There is no pre-registration for this event.

- This webinar will be recorded and archived in this community for viewing at anytime.
About the Presenters

Sam Ullery is the School Garden Specialist at the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s Division of Wellness and Nutrition. Sam has six years of inner city high school science teaching experience where he challenged students to engage in the food system through gardening. In his current role, Sam collaborates with garden-based organizations to ensure the 80-plus DC school gardens receive the technical support, training, and resources needed to continue to engage youth in garden-based learning. Sam also serves as the co-president of the DC Schoolyard Greening Committee.
Kate Lee holds a degree in Horticulture from the Univ. of Georgia and has 5 years of experience in urban farming. As owner and head grower Capital City Farm Co., an urban micro-farming business, Kate works with schools, non-profits, and residents around Washington, DC developing garden programs, growing vegetables, and educating future gardeners. Her skills also include drip irrigation installation, compost management, and beekeeping.

Kealy Rudersdorf is DC Greens’ Garden Educator at Stoddert Elementary.

She teaches garden-based lessons in the spring and fall with the students, leads community open times in the garden during the summer, and provides environmental-based science lessons during the winter.

Kealy has a B.S. in Civil Engineering and a M.A. in Teaching, and has earned a LEED accreditation and a certificate in permaculture design.

In addition to working with DC Greens, Kealy helps to manage two farmers’ markets.

This program is co-hosted by edWeb.net and the National Farm to School Network.

Follow us on Twitter @edWebnet to learn about upcoming webinars and special events!