On the QT | The Official Newsletter of GWA April-May 2016 | Page 7

USDA NATIONALLY The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 was authorized and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish a Farm to School Program by awarding grants and assistance to schools that apply. It has resulted in some very creative projects across the country. The Arizona Community Food Bank in Tucson partnered with 11 schools in the Tucson Unified School District to bring local, healthy food into their cafeterias. The district established seven school garden projects initially and has expanded to school gardens in every school in the district. LEMON GROVE SCHOOL DISTRICT, LEMON GROVE, CALIFORNIA MADISON, WISCONSIN The biennial Farm to Cafeteria Conference is set for June 2-4 in Madison, Wisconsin. This is the 8th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference hosted by the National Farm to School Network. It convenes more than 1,500 diverse groups working to source local food for institutional cafeterias, helping to foster a culture of healthy food and agricultural literacy. Included in this diverse group are representatives of cafeterias in public schools, colleges, universities and hospitals — all with a goal to end obesity and strengthen local food systems. The 2016 conference will offer opportunities to develop innovative partnerships in long-term sustainability in agriculture and food service. For more information: farmtocafeteriaconference.org Volunteers for Plant a Row Johnson County, North Carolina, nurture plants in a greenhouse. Plant a Row grows in North Carolina and Pennsylvania Plant a Row Johnson County, North Carolina was recently profiled by Johnson County Today on its efforts to grow the program. With 16 volunteers headed by PAR coordinator Tiffany Whichard, the main garden is at the Johnson County Community College Arboretum, and includes 30 varieties of produce. Volunteers also contribute items from their own gardens. In 2015, the project yielded almost 2,000 pounds of fresh produce, which was donated to local food banks and soup kitchens. The goal for 2016 is to beat that number at 2,500 pounds. To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/ PlantARowJoCo. PHOTO COUR TESY TIFFAN Y WHI CHA RD San Diego County’s Lemon Grove is home to nearly 7,000 farms, the most in any county in the U.S. The farms have partnered with the USDA grant project, using local farm growers to provide local produce for school lunch programs. Like many of the school projects across the country, staff is educated in using minimally processed foods in lunches. The Morning Call and Soucon Source recently did stories on Joseph Marlin and his work with Plant a Row Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. Working with Penn State University Master Gardener Robert Yoder, Marlin has already recruited more than 40 gardens to participate in the 2016 campaign. To learn more, visit www.plantarowlv.com. The Food Gardening & Organics Advisory Panel welcomes stories and suggestions. Please email them to Jim Long at [email protected] GWA member Jim Long is a garden columnist, book author and organic herb gardener. He markets his herb health formulas and books through his website, www.longcreekherbs.com and travels the world searching for new and unusual edible plants. 7