PORTLAND FARM KIDSFarm to School Information for Hands on Greater Portland

Volunteers Source: National Farm-to-School

Program, http://www.farmtoschool.org

ROOT ProblemMore than 30 million children eat school food five days a week, 180 days a year. Though the nutrition value does not meet the standards we expect. If school food can improve the health of kids, develop new marketing opportunities for farmers, and support the local economy, it’s a win-win for everyone

Source: One Tray, One Nation. http://onetray.org/, 2009

HB 2800 AND HB 2650 IN THE 2011 OREGON LEGISLATIVE SESSION

FARM TO SCHOOL AND SCHOOL GARDEN OREGON HB 2800 

HEALTHY FOODS FOR HEALTHY STUDENTS OREGON HB 2650

Establish a farm-to-school program and school garden program,

Sets nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold outside of the federal meals program in schools.

Provides Oregon grown foods into school meal programs

Creates a garden based curriculum

Increases exposure to nutritional foods creating life long eating habits

Current voluntary agreements made by the food and beverage industries put the burden on school districts to negotiate for healthier options

Includes clear uniform standards so that all of Oregon’s kids have nutritious choices.

Nutrition standards address calories, portion size and the amount of fat and sugar allowed in foods and beverages

Source: Stacey S. Williams and Michelle M.

Ratcliffe, Ecotrust Farm to School Program A Working History of Farm to School

Legislation in Oregon Summer 2010

It takes a whole community to put nutritious foods from local farms onthe menu in schools. Learn how you can get involved by visiting Hands on

Greater Portland or Zenger Farms websites

If the House Bills pass that will assist in bringing awareness to the lack of a nutritional standard being mandated in Oregon schools.

Working in conjunction with local farms and advocacy groups will help increase public involvement with this important issue.

The Education program at Zenger Farm Join the movement for good food!

From tending crops to teaching kids, volunteers are essential partners in assisting with school groups visiting us and joining in our.

We love our volunteer community!

Farm Educators Help educate youth about sustainable

farming and environmental

stewardship through farm field trips.

Volunteers attend a one day training.

For more information about this position contact Education Director at Zenger

Farms and please fill out the

Field Trip Application 

www.zengerfarm.org

Films and Resources

Fun game for kids to learn about their food! http://www.dole.com/#/superkids/html/kids/Games%20&%20More.html

Introducing Zenger Farm http://www.zengerfarm.org/index.php?page=102

What is Farm to School? http://vimeo.com/foodhub/farmtoschool

Questions For Volunteers

What kind of background check must be done for volunteers before they can work around kids? A questionnaire will be provided a minimum of ten days before the project and returned within seven days so our local law enforcement can provide a basic criminal history.

Will I be made to provide transportation? No, all children and volunteers will meet at the participating school and be bussed to the farm.

Who can I contact in the local government agencies about similar programs? Cory Schreiber in the Department of Agriculture and Joan Ottinger in the Department of Education are charged with connecting farmers with school cafeterias.

Sources Ecotrust (events, program overviews, assistance and legislative updates),

www.ecotrust.org/farmtoschool

National Farm to School Program, www.farmtoschool.org Portland Public Schools' Local Lunch program,

www.nutrition.pps.k12.or.us/.docs/pg/10173

Growing Gardens' school garden resource page, www.growing-gardens.org (click on Resources, then School Gardens)

Bend/LaPine farm-to-school program, www.bend.k12.or.us (click on Parents, Nutrition, Menus, and Farm to School)

Centennial Learning Center, www.centennial.k12.or.us/schools/clc

Growing lunch; Leslie Cole, “The Oregonian,” Feb 24, 2010 

Author Bios

Jason Hunt, Senior at PSU majoring in Business Administration

Penelope Cole, Senior at PSU majoring in History with a minor in Humanities

As part of their Civic Leadership for Social Change capstone course, they partnered with Hands On Greater Portland to bring

awareness and share information to future volunteers that can be accessed digitally through the Hands On Greater

Portland website.