CT Farm to School Conference

Join us for a full day of exciting workshops and networking opportunities focused on creating healthier school communities!

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To register as a volunteer and receive your registration coupon code, please contact schoolgardens@commongroundct.org

Download a flyer here!

Who Should Attend? Calling all school garden enthusiasts, educators, farmers, policy makers, public health advocates, food service professionals, and more!

What Will I Learn?

best practices for the school garden
local foods procurement and promotion
experiential food education
food, farm, and nutrition curriculum
funding opportunities, and more!

What Will I Gain?

Each conference registration includes a FREE resource manual containing workshop materials, curriculum, articles, and other relevant Farm to School information!

Click Here to Read Workshop Descriptions and Presenter Bios

Conference Agenda

8:00-9:00	Arrival and Registration
9:00-10:15	Opening Remarks and Keynote Speakers Ron Adams: Director of Food Services – Portland Public Schools, Maine Ellen B. Libby: Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Healthy Lifestyles, State Supervisor for FoodCorps Maine, State Co-Lead for National Farm to School Network – University of Maine Cooperative Extension
10:25-11:40	Workshop Session A Procurement 101: Targeting Local Foods through Fair and Open Competition CSI: Creating, Sustaining, and Implementing District Wide School Garden Programs School-Based Farmers’ Markets There’s No “I” in “Eat”: How Bridgeport’s Large School District Teamed Up for Nutrition There are Bugs and then there are BUGs: Growing Safer Fruits and Vegetables with Good Agricultural Practices Never Too Small to Grow: Examining the Design and Successes of Two Early Childhood Garden Models
11:50-12:35	Lunch & Networking (Featuring Locally Sourced Ingredients)
12:35- 1:35	Plenary: Farm to School Collaborations Across the State Featured Programs: Alicia McAvay (Farm FRESH New London County Schools) , Sally Mancini (Growing Great Schools, West Hartford), Sally Millius (Grow Windham), and Melissa Spear (CT School Garden Resource Center)
1:45-3:00	Workshop Session B Funding Your Future: A Guide to the USDA’s Farm to School Grant Program Starting and Sustaining School Gardens Harvest of the Month: An Easy Way to Grow Farm to School in Any Size District Teaching The Millennials Farm-Based Field Trips Kids Dig It: Using Garden-Based Learning to Engage Students in Food and Agricultural Education Youth-Led Gardening and Engagement in High Schools
3:10-3:50	Round Table Discussions/Open Space
3:50-4:00	Closing Remarks (Continued Networking with Local UCONN Ice Cream & Hosmer’s Soda)

Friday, March 20th, 8 – 4pm

Student Center at Eastern CT State University

83 Windham Street, Willimantic, CT 06226

Parking: Please park in the parking garage and follow signs for the Student Center.
For more information, please contact: schoolgardens@commongroundct.org.

Brought to you by: USDA Farm To School, CT Food System Alliance, and the School Garden Resource Center at Common Ground.