Farm field trips are the perfect experiential learning opportunity for young children. Being on a farm is sure to be memorable for a small child...the sights, sounds, and smells, coupled with activities such as picking fruits or vegetables, feeding animals, or sitting on a tractor. So much fun! However, in many child care and preschool settings, it's just not feasible to transport children off site for a field trip. So, what's the next best thing? Invite a farmer to be a spec

When asked the question, “Have you heard of Farm to ECE?” many will say no. Maybe it’s the formal name or the acronym “ECE?” Whatever it is, if you’re working with young children, I am willing to bet you practice some form of Farm to ECE in your setting and don’t realize it. One of the most common Farm to ECE activities this time of year is the annual field trip to the apple orchard or pumpkin patch. Picking apples from trees or seeing fields of pumpkins on their vines are va

HAPPY Fall, Y’all! Leaves are falling and autumn is calling, pretty colors fill the air. It’s time for hoodies, flannel, sweaters, and football. It doesn’t matter which Iowa team you cheer for, we all "root" (pun intended) for our Iowa farmers!! One way to show your support is to participate in Iowa Local Food Day on October 11th. I plan on participating in this event. At Little Steps and Beyond Daycare, we will be serving local foods for all meals and snacks that day. I

October is National Farm to School Month, a time to celebrate connections happening all over the country between schools, food, and local farmers! Farm to school enriches the connections communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers by changing food purchasing and education practices at schools and early care and education settings. With farm to school, students gain access to healthy, local foods as well as education opportunities such as school gardens,

It's fall, and do you know what that means?! It's apple orchard season! If you've been thinking about how to introduce local foods into your child care program or own household, here is your opportunity. First, purchase local apples from your nearest apple orchard. You can make a day of it by picking your own and partaking in some of the other attractions on site (if applicable), buying from a farm stand or market, or purchasing from a retail store that sells locally grown ap

September is nearly halfway over, so it's time to start looking ahead to October. It’s all about 5-2-1-0! Whether your child care site is new to 5-2-1-0 or already registered and ready for more, there are a variety of ways your staff and students can make “Healthy Choices Count!” during the month of October. October is Healthiest State Month and throughout the month we will celebrate healthy habits, culminating in the 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! Summit on October 22 at Des

People often ask me what I do. Well….. Sometimes I don’t know how to answer the question or even where to begin the story. If I worked at a school, hospital, grocery store, or a farm, it would be much easier to explain. People generally understand jobs like that. The problem is...I work a little with all of the above to help children know where their food comes from, have access to healthy locally grown food, and to be given the opportunity for daily play. Oh, I don’t do it

Looking for a way to use those berries from your fresh berry-picking adventure or from your own garden? How about serving these star-spangled pancakes from the USDA Mixing Bowl in honor of the upcoming 4th of July holiday? In addition to serving fresh, local, or garden-grown berries, consider purchasing yogurt from an Iowa dairy such as Kalona Supernatural, Country View Dairy, or AE. Note: This recipe is written for large quantity preparation, but can be adjusted for househol

A note about the author: Nathan Spalding is the Iowa FoodCorps Food Program Coordinator. It’s that much-anticipated time of year when teachers pack up their colorfully adorned classrooms and students clean out their lockers before setting off into the summer sun. But as the school year comes to close, communities are gearing up for a summer of continued learning and summer meals. In Iowa, 10 FoodCorps service members are joining summer schools, meal sites, and day camps to de

Lyrics written by: Anita Schuckert, Owner of Little Steps & Beyond Day Care, Iowa City, IA (Sung to the tune, “She’ll Be Comin' Round the Mountain") If you grow food in your garden, plant a seed and pull a weed If you grow food in your garden, dig and hoe and sow a row If you grow food in your garden, eating fresh is all you know If you grow food in your garden... Dig and hoe, sow a row, Pull a weed and plant a seed If you shop at Farmers Markets, take a bite, Crunch, Crunch

What does "farm to school" mean? What does it have to do with me? Where can I find out more? Here's your one-stop shop! Learn about how farm to school (& farm to ECE) works, or take your farm to school activities to the next level. Join us at the in Pella, IA on June 21st and 22nd. Farm to School and Farm to ECE activities in Iowa are helping put local food in front of children, supporting Iowa farmers, and connecting students to local food systems through gardening and nut

Earth Day was founded in 1970 as a day of education about environmental issues. Earth Day 2019 occurs on Monday, April 22. The holiday is now a global celebration that is sometimes extended into Earth Week, a full seven days of events focused on green living. Ok, so, what is green living? Green living is a lifestyle that attempts to bring balance between working with nature instead of against it (that can eventually be sustained in the long term). The best way to achieve this

Pat Brisson (Author), Mary Azarian (Illustrator) Lucky for me I found this book early on in my work with Farm to Early Care and Education. I can tell you it was well worth the money to purchase one of the first copies back in 2014. Now it is a little less money in its second edition that includes resources in the back of the book – several that I have had the honor and opportunity to work with. The illustrations in the book are delightful and the children can easily connect

On February 14, 2019 Minnesota state legislators introduced a bipartisan bill supporting farm to school. This was authored by Senator Mike Goggin (R- Red Wing) and Representative Todd Lippert (DFL-Northfield). The bill, House File 811, was supported by several stakeholders including a second grader, a farmer, a child nutrition services director, and a farm to school coordinator. Sen. Goggin noted, "In my hometown of Red Wing, 50 percent of kids depend on free or reduced-pric

It's January. The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is over and the decorations are put away. Time to hit the reset button and plan for the year ahead. If you are a child care provider, January is a great time to think about menu planning for the year. Have you thought about incorporating more local foods into your program? Would you like to spend less money on food? Save time? Reduce food waste? Using a cycle menu will help you achieve all of these goals. Benefits o

If you're looking for a way to serve local foods year round and get kids in the kitchen, give this recipe from the National CACFP Sponsors Association a try. Purchase yogurt from an Iowa dairy such as Kalona Supernatural or Country View Dairy. If strawberry flavor is not available, simply substitute with vanilla. Both of these brands are creditable in the CACFP because they contain less than 23 grams of sugar per 6 oz serving. Use fresh, local berries during the summer or fre

Annual field trips to pumpkin patches and apple orchards have been checked off the list, fall produce has been harvested, and the gardens are officially down for a long winter’s nap. Instead of making applesauce with children, you’re baking and decorating cookies. You’d like to continue serving local produce, but it’s Iowa. How does one do that in the winter? Is it even possible to build on the Farm to ECE momentum that was created during the growing season? Farm to ECE is mo