This fact sheet provides strategies for starting and sustaining farm to school activities in Native communities.

The farm to school movement began in the late 1990s with a few schools in different states and has grown to more than 42,000 schools (42 percent of U.S. schools) in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. This graphic illustrates the growth in farm to school activities by number of programs and number of states reporting since 1997.

Whether you are in the planning phase, building phase or expanding the capacity and long-term sustainability of a farm to school program, funding is undoubtedly one of your top priorities. There are a variety of organizations, programs and ideas to help you. This fact sheet covers: government funding (federal, state or county, municipal); foundations (private family, corporate or community); alternative financial services and social impact investors; business sponsorships; and fundraising events (dinners, sales, etc.)

Farm to school offers multiple strategies to improve the health of children and communities. But getting started can be a daunting endeavor. This list provides some simple first steps to develop a lasting farm to school program in your community.

This fact sheet offers steps and considerations for starting a school garden, including: collaboration, goals and design, funding, planting, maintaining, supplies, curriculum and benefits.

This fact sheet offers advice for those looking to institute farm to early care and procurement practices in a child care center setting. It discusses procurement from distributors, farmers' markets, farmers, CSAs, and gardens.

This fact sheet offers advice for those looking to institute farm to early care and education purchasing practices in a family child care setting. It discusses purchasing from farmers' markets, grocery stores, food co-ops, CSAs and gardens.

The National Farm to School Network is bringing a wave of Seed Change to states and communities poised for significant farm to school growth. This fact sheet explains Seed Change strategies, outcomes and successes.

This webinar offers insight into early care and education (ECE) agencies and organizations, and highlights opportunities for state level partnerships to advance farm to school in ECE environments.

In 2015, the National Farm to School Network surveyed early care and education providers across the country to better understand current initiatives, motivations and challenges in applying farm to school activities in early care and education settings.

This fact sheet offers steps for instituting farm to early care and education practices in early care and education settings (preschools, Head Start, center-based, programs in K-12 school districts, and family child care programs). It also discusses differences between school districts and early care settings.

Agriculture lending institutions rooted in your local community can be great partners in growing farm to school. In this webinar, the National Farm to School Network and Farm Credit discuss innovative ideas for partnership.

Agriculture lending institutions can be great partners in growing farm to school. This fact sheet offers an introduction to Farm Credit and innovative ideas for partnering with local Farm Credit organizations.

In celebration of National Farm to School Month, the National Farm to School Network hosted a webinar introduction to the farm to school movement. Learn about the three core elements of farm to school - procurement, education and school gardens - and how the movement is working to connect 23.5 million children to local food in schools all over the country.

MARCH 10, 2015 Although the Child Nutrition Act (known as CNR) isn't set to expire until September 30, the action in D.C. is happening now, and we need your help. Learn how farm to school legislation is progressing as part of CNR and what you can do to help make sure farm to school gets the support it needs from Congress! Actions that anyone can take to join the effort and become an effective advocate for farm to school will be discussed.

Your school garden is growing, your lunch line is local, and your community's health and economy are improving thanks to farm to school. But if you don't learn how to tell your story in a concise, compelling way, interest in your program could stagnate. Maintain momentum for farm to school within your community through media relations, funder outreach and community partners with persuasive success stories. The National Farm to School Network's communications staff, Chelsey Simpson and Stacey Malstrom, will offer simple best-practices and easy tips for sharing your story and finding your audience. The 20-minute presentation will be followed by a Q&A session.

At its core, good media relations is about RELATIONSHIPS. Editorial staffs are shrinking, and journalists are being asked to take on more responsibilities. Their time and attention is limited; now more than ever, media need savvy sources that they can depend on. Follow these tips to start building better media relationships and engage a wider audience in your work.

Please note this archived webinar is not available. Contact info@farmtoschool.org for the audio file. How can collaborative networks and innovative partnerships support farm to school? And how can communities build those partnerships and networks? This webinar features Peter Allison, network director for Farm to Institution New England (FINE.)

Please note, this file is audio only. In this webinar, Betti Wiggins (Executive Director, Office of Food Services at Detroit Public Schools) discusses farm to school practices, such as taste tests and education programs, that can help schools smoothly and successfully transition their menus and their students to the new nutrition standards.

In celebration of National farm to School Month, this webinar will offer an introductory look at farm to school. Three speakers will discuss the three core elements of farm to school: procurement, education and school gardens.

For the last year, the National Farm to School Network has been in dialogue with partners and gathering information on how farm to school can be lifted up in the 2015 Child Nutrition Reauthorization. Please join NFSN in a conversation about specific opportunities to support farm to school in CNR2015, and how you can partner in this effort in the coming months.

The webinar will introduce the different components of Evaluation for Transformation: A Cross-Sectoral Evaluation Framework for Farm to School" and highlight how different users can use it effectively for their unique needs.

This resource defines the outcomes that farm to school has the potential to achieve and it offers common language, guidelines and metrics to understand those outcomes for the first time. The framework is organized around four key sectors: public health, community economic development, education and environmental quality.

Three versions of the National Farm to School Month logo for use on promotional materials. Full color, one color and black only.

This website provides links to the archives of the National Farm to School Network's Farm to Preschool E-newsletter.

Use this training template to teach educators how to communicate with administrators about the importance of farm to school. The template consists of a customizable slide deck, speaker notes, handouts and an evaluation form.

Use this training template to teach educators about how to incorporate farm to school activities through experiential education. The template consists of a customizable slide deck, speaker notes, handouts and an evaluation form.

Use this training template to teach child nutrition professionals the basic skills they need to prepare and serve local products, such as knife skills and batch cooking. The template consists of a customizable slide deck, speaker notes, handouts and an evaluation form.

Use this training template to educate preschool and early care providers about how to incorporate farm to preschool activities through experiential education. The template consists of a customizable slide deck, speaker notes, handouts and an evaluation form.

Use this training template to teach preschool/early child care providers how to successfully engage families in farm to preschool activities and why engagement is important. The template consists of a customizable slide deck, speaker notes, handouts and an evaluation form.

Use this training template to teach preschool and early care providers about getting started with farm to preschool. The template consists of a customizable slide deck, speaker notes, handouts and an evaluation form.

Use this training template to guide child nutrition professionals through the process of conducting a self-assessment to gauge their school/districts's readiness to start or expand farm to school practices. The materials offer a great overview of farm to school and the steps involved in getting started. The template consists of a customizable slide deck, speaker notes, handouts and an evaluation form.

Use this training template to teach educators what farm to school is and how to incorporate farm to school lessons in the classroom (and outside the classroom). The template consists of a customizable slide deck, speaker notes, handouts and an evaluation form.

Use this training template to educate farmers and other food producers about the ways farm to school can add value to their business. The template consists of a customizable slide deck, speaker notes, handouts and an evaluation form.

Use this training template to educate farmers about the role they can play in farm to school and farm-based education. The template consists of a customizable slide deck, speaker notes, handouts and an evaluation form.

Use this training template to teach farmers how to navigate the school food system and sell their products to schools. The template consists of a customizable slide deck, speaker notes, handouts and an evaluation form.

Use this training template to teach child nutrition professionals what local procurement is, why it is important and how to purchase local. The template consists of a customizable slide deck, speaker notes, handouts and an evaluation form.

All slide presentations from Lightning Talks presented at the 7th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference. Files are linked via Google Drive in a zipped folder and might take a while to download.

All slide presentations from the three short courses conducted at the 7th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference. Topics include evaluation, food safety and farm visits. Files are linked via Google Drive in a zipped folder and might take a while to download.

All slide presentations from plenary sessions at the 7th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference. Files are linked via Google Drive in a zipped folder and might take a while to download.

All presentations and materials from the "Farm to Preschool" workshop track at the 7th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference. Files are linked via Google Drive in a zipped folder and might take a while to download.

All presentations and materials from the "School Gardens" workshop track at the 7th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference. Files are linked via Google Drive in a zipped folder and might take a while to download.

All presentations and materials from the "Growing the Farm to Cafeteria Movement" workshop track at the 7th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference. Files are linked via Google Drive in a zipped folder and might take a while to download.

All presentations and materials from the "Farm to Cafeteria Throughout the Community" workshop track at the 7th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference. Files are linked via Google Drive in a zipped folder and might take a while to download.

All presentations and materials from the "Messaging for Success" workshop track at the 7th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference. Files are linked via Google Drive in a zipped folder, and might take a while to download.

All presentations and materials from the "Local and Sustainable Food Procurement Strategies" workshop track at the 7th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference. Files are linked via Google Drive in a zipped folder, and might take a while to download.

All presentations and materials from the "Evaluating, Measuring and Reporting Impact" workshop track at the 7th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference. Files are linked via Google Drive in a zipped folder and might take a while to download.

All presentations and materials from the "Growing an Equitable and Just Food System " workshop track at the 7th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference. Files are linked via Google Drive in a zipped folder and might take a while to download.

All presentations and materials from the "Food Hubs and Infrastructure Growth" workshop track at the 7th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference. Files are linked via Google Drive in a zipped folder and might take a while to download.

All presentations and materials from the "Policy and Advocacy Across the Farm to Cafeteria Movement" workshop track at the 7th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference. Files are linked via Google Drive in a zipped folder and might take a while to download.

All presentations and materials from the "Education, Training and Professional Development" workshop track at the 7th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference. Files are linked via Google Drive in a zipped folder and might take a while to download.

All presentations and materials from the "Building Power Through Partnerships and Networks" workshop track at the 7th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference. Files are in a zipped folder and might take a while to download.

The National Farm to School Network convened a group of 18 experienced farm to school and preschool practitioners to develop a series of peer-training templates. Each training template consists of a customizable slide deck, speaker notes, handouts and an evaluation form. The project was funded in part by by the Newman's Own Foundation.

In many communities across the country, food banks are emerging as community food hubs, connecting local farms to other markets, including schools. Some food banks are engaged in other farm to school activities including experiential farm education. This webinar features individuals who are leading this model at their local food banks.

The current Child Nutrition Act is set to expire in September 2015. Every 4-5 years, an opportunity arises, through the reauthorization of this important legislation, to evaluate, support and improve child nutrition programs. Join NFSN Policy & Strategic Partnerships Director, Helen Dombalis, for a discussion of Child Nutrition Reauthorization 2015.

Summer is almost here, and school doors will soon be closing, yet many kids across the country will still enjoy healthy, local foods thanks to summer feeding programs. Join this Lunch Bites webinar to learn about on-the-ground examples of Farm to School in summer feeding programs.

Join us to hear about two examples where local/state governments are key partners in supporting the growth of farm to school programs. Speakers will be Donna Oberg with the Healthy Eating and Active Living Program at Public Health Seattle & King County and Edith Murnane with the City of Boston's Office of Food Initiatives.

Learn about the finance industry���s interest in financing Farm to School related enterprises. Discussion topics will include the types of organizations and projects best suited for debt financing as well as standard benchmarks required to qualify for a loan. Presenters: Ted Levinson and Kate Danaher, RSF Social Finance.

This webinar will address these challenges and offer specific strategies and recommendations to successfully connect school garden produce with the school food service programs. Hear about great garden successes from New York and Connecticut school districts and these programs' impacts on students and their food experiences.

Come learn about professional development for school food service workers based on hands-on, family-style cooking classes incorporating seasonal ingredients and global flavor profiles. Intro to the methodology used to increase the confidence in cooking with fresh foods and how that impacts the purchasing of fresh ingredients and helps to create a sustainable Farm to School lunch

Learn about the NFSN's Farm to Preschool initiative. Participants will be introduced to the Farm to Preschool movement and resources, find out how to get involved, and get a closer look at some example programs from across the country.

This webinar will release the results of an internal survey conducted by the NFSN that demonstrates the growth of Farm to School across the country. It will also highlight past research that demonstrates the important role Farm to School plays in supporting healthy children and healthy communities.

Join members of the Farm Based Education and Farm to School Communities across the country to discuss how to develop educational experiences on farms and in gardens that reflect classroom curricula goals. We���ll discuss strategies for developing lessons and activities that reflect classroom curriculum and meet standards.

Come explore FoodHub ��� A FREE virtual networking tool that makes it easy for schools to find farmers and food producers. Join us as we take a step-by-step look at how FoodHub has helped schools find farmers in their area with simple search tools, comprehensive profiles and a dynamic marketplace.

At most schools, summer vacation inconveniently coincides with the peak growing season, creating a challenge for school garden coordinators. Dorothy Mullen and Beth Feehan will discuss the possibilities and provide successful examples for a variety of garden situations.

Getting a program off the ground is just the first hurdle. How can we build programs that are sustainable beyond their initial funding and aren't tied to the success of one or two passionate leaders?

Complying with local regulations and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) is usually worth the time and money for farmers who want to work with schools and other large buyers, but it can seem daunting. This webinar will appeal most to farmers who are new to GAP or Farm to School and nutrition directors with questions about Farm to School and food safety.

How can Farm-Based Education support the work of Farm to School programs? What should you keep in mind when you are working with students on a farm? You'll hear tips about making these connections and you'll leave with ideas for developing farm-based education opportunities that support student learning.

How LAUSD eliminated commodity foods, significantly increased purchase of fruits and vegetables within a 200 mile radius, dramatically changed the lunch menu, and did it without an increase in budget!

Want to learn tips for bringing dynamic cooking experiences to children? Ever wonder which recipes work best in the classroom setting? Whether you are a community organizer, parent or teacher, this webinar will offer key considerations and solutions to cooking in the classroom.

This webinar will highlight impacts from a national multi-site evaluation of Farm to School programs conducted by UNC, share tools and evaluation strategies and provide a framework for identifying and using preferred methods of evaluation by Farm to School programs across the country.

This fact sheet describes and explains how to organize "farm-raisers" a fundraising option for farm to school programs.