Farm to School Blog
Oregon Rural Action's Farm to School Program in Eastern Oregon
In 2010, Oregon Rural Action kicked off the state's first Farm to School program east of Bend. After a successful workshop for producers, school employees, and supportive community members, we're welcoming our first Farm to School pilot project school, North Powder!
Stay tuned to this blog for new developments in this exciting program to unite local producers and local schools to help improve nutrition and the local economy.
If you would like to get involved in helping bring Farm to School to one of the schools in Union County, or if you are interested in becoming a sponsor of a Harvest of the Month program, please contact Teresa Roark at 541-975-2411 or email teresa@oregonrural.org.
Farm to School at the State Level
I wanted to share with you a great article from Oregon Capital News about legislation in the Oregon Legislature that would provide funding to school lunch programs for locally-grown produce. And ORA member Misty Free is featured!
Working Upstream
Imagine you are on the City Council and someone has brought it to your attention that people keep falling as they try to cross the river north of town. These people are being swept up in the currents and drowned! One of your colleagues on the city council suggests forming a volunteer task force to stand at the bend in the river near the rapids and throw life preservers to people. You think about all of the resources it is going to take to continually recruit and organize volunteers and how quickly the cost of life preservers is going to add up. You suggest that the council move UPSTREAM and build a bridge across the river. Now volunteers can better address other pressing issues and the city council can save those valuable life preserver funds. You are working upstream.
What Fruit or Vegetable Best Represents October?
North Powder made it to month two of their Harvest of the Month Program. Last month North Powder emphasized potatoes, this month it's Pears and Pumpkins. Find out about all of the exciting activities centered around these delicious fall items.
Potato Harvest Season
September was potato harvest here in Union County. As part of their Farm to School Program the Powder Valley School District organized activities throughout the month that helped connect students to local agriculture and emphasize the seasonality of produce.
Update on Fall Farm to School Workshop
The Farm to School Task Force has been planning a workshop in North Powder to highlight local successes at connecting students to the food that they eat. We posted a general idea of topics to be included previously, but now have a more complete agenda.
How Farm to School Grew This Spring
So many exciting things have happened since our March Farm to School workshop. The North Powder School District formed a Farm to School Committee, the Elgin School District is in the process of forming one, Oregon Rural Action and OHSU partnered to organize a Harvest of the Month “beta taste,” and the ORA Farm to School Task Force met to set priorities for next fall.
"This Doesn't Taste Like Normal Spinach"
May has come to an end. This means many things: the end of the school year, the beginning of nicer weather (hopefully), the start of the La Grande Farmers Market, and, of course, the end of Farm to School’s “Spring Greens Month”.
North Powder Takes Off
After the March 5th Farm to School workshop an excited group of teachers, parents, and producers really wanted to see a Farm to School program happen at the North Powder school district.
"Strong to the Finish, Cause I Eats My SPINACH
North Powder was the site of the first Harvest of the Month tasting table in Union County. On May 10th a very dedicated parent volunteer, four OHSU nursing students, and I visited the North Powder elementary school during lunch time and passed out samples of local spinach salad and a fresh spinach and strawberry smoothie.
May Tastings Are Scheduled! Sponsors Needed!
We are getting ready to go forward with a Beta Taste of the Harvest of the Month tasting tables. On May 10th we will be in North Powder, May 11 in Imbler and May 19 in Union. The tasting tables will feature Spinach prepared in multiple ways, including as a dessert!
April Tasting Tables – Where Art Thou Spinach? Or, ‘As the Weather Turns’ in Eastern Oregon!
We were so close to having three tasting tables up and running in April! Spinach was ‘reserved’ through ORA members, Val &Rod Tchenko of Val’s Veggies, and we had three willing and able schools: Union, North Powder and Imbler. But, alas, the cool temperatures took a ‘nice jump’ to warmer temps, and two weeks prior to the first scheduled tasting, we got the bad news… ‘we lost everything in the greenhouse’.
Farm to School all Year Round
At the March 31st Harvest of the Month planning meeting the team developed a Harvest of the Month Calendar. Each month features a different seasonal produce item!
Harvest of the Month gets underway
“Harvest of the Month” features one locally purchased item each month. Once a month the Harvest of the Month team, along with parent, and local producer volunteers will visit area schools during lunch time and pass out samples of the featured item and introduce students to the farmer who grew it!
Imbler kids are hip to the local foods "beet"
Hats off to Margret Craig, Head Cook for the Imbler School District. After the March 5th workshop Margaret began purchasing several items from local producers she met during the workshop including eggs, beets, and potatoes from Vals Veggies. Turns out kids love beets! And who wouldn't love a bright purple vegetable?
Farm to School program kicks off!
Thank You Workshop Sponsors and Donors! One of the highlights of our March 5th workshop was the luncheon featuring local foods! The meal was prepared by our own Director Andrea Malmberg and Community Organizer Nella Parks. The lunch included lamb sausages from Sexton Ranches, fresh lemons and oranges donated by friends of Sexton Ranches; fresh rolls and cookies from Kneads Bakery; and potatoes, beets, and onions purchased from Arrowleaf Farms. You really can serve local food in Union County in March!
