Focus on Children 2015 Presentation: Jessica Sankey Coordinator, Whatcom Early Learning Alliance Education & Outreach Support, Whatcom Farm to School Contact: This lucky little guy is Godrik Woody, son of Gretchen Woody, the owner of Spring Frog at the Holistic Homestead and of the Grown Local Alliance Distribution Service, LLC. Gretchen grows and distributes her organic produce with a team of farmers for Haggen and Markets grocery stores and other special accounts as well. She is beginning her 11 th growing season and going strong!

Shared Understanding: Why Early Nutrition Education Matters Low “dose” of Farm to School education = large impact on children’s eating behaviors Adults are responsible for offering healthy foods to children. Children are responsible for choosing how much and which choices to eat --Ellyn Satter

National F2PS Support National Farm to School Network Lead convener in farm to preschool movement Let’s Move! Child Care Sign up to be a LMCC provider; Rich resources for participants, including free online trainings USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Menu Magic For Children: menu planning resource Child Nutrition Act Reauthorization Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act of 2010 set to expire September 2015

Washington State Farm to Preschool Support Washington State Department of Agriculture Farm to School and Farm to Preschool resources: e/92/f2p-curriculum Washington Grown Food Kit– farm fresh food by season Whatcom Farm to School Harvest of the Month— Education & outreach materials

Farm to Preschool: Three Core Components Procurement Local foods are purchased, promoted and served at mealtime or as a snack or taste test From “What is Farm to Preschool?”; National Farm to School Network Education Children participate in education activities related to agriculture, food, health or nutrition School gardens Children engage in hands-on learning through gardening

HEADLINE NEWS: “Just A Few Quick Visits to the Garden and Kitchen May Help Kids Eat Healthier” In-school cooking programs for kids aged 5-12 linked to kids choosing healthier foods to eat. Only 2 classes made an impact on kids’ food choices. With school garden programs, students: 1.Eat more fruits and veggies; 2.Enjoy measurably better health; 3.Report liking vegetables more. Source: Sarah McColl, Takepart. December

Where do your potatoes grow? Potatoes from your garden or a farm close to your home use less energy traveling to you. Try eating local potatoes for Harvest of the Month! Ecuador Japan Kids all over the world love potatoes because they are easy to grow & easy to eat. East Africa Sample Harvest of the Month slide

Brainstorm: What works in your program? ProcurementEducationGardens

Next steps: Easy, available opportunities Whatcom Farm to School: Harvest of the Month Common Threads Garden Collective Bellingham Public Library & Whatcom County Libraries --food, farms & gardening check-out kits

Brainstorm: How can we work together to build a Farm to Preschool system? What resources, services, or connections do you need?

“…when kids are a part of growing, harvesting, and the preparation of their own delicious meals with friends and family, they are more likely to eat it. They are more likely to ENJOY it.” --from Garden Gastronomy, a collection of recipes tried and tested by the youth gardeners of City Blossoms, a DC nonprofit working to create urban gardening experiences and enrich the lives of children and their communities.

Farm to Preschool Classroom Recipes Minty Fresh Strawberry Salad A Sprinkle of Sugar 12 Leaves of Mint Strawberries A Few Basil Leaves Tear mint leaves into ant-sized pieces Combine mint & sugar & mash together until sugar turns green Take green tops off strawberries & chop into yummy-sized pieces Mix strawberry pieces with green minty sugar mix Tear basil leaves into ant-sized pieces Add basil to strawberry-mint salad Serve to everyone you love Sunflower Seed Bites 2 Tablespoons Honey ¼ Cup Sunflower Butter 2 Tablespoons Rolled Oats 2 Tablespoons Raisins ¼ Cup Unshelled Sunflower Seeds ¼ Cup Flax Seed ¼ Cup Sesame Seed 1.Add 1-2 scoops of sunflower seed butter, honey, oats and raisins to mixing bowl until forms a dough. 2.Sprinkle sunflower, flax & sesame seeds on a plate 3.Roll a little bit of dough into a ball. 4.Roll the dough ball on the plate of seeds to coat. 5.Eat together!