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