Slide 1January 29, 2015
ODE Farm To School Website: www.ode.state.or.us/go/f2sgardens
Everything located here!
DIFFERENT as serving food in a cafeteria from produce
distributor!
• “Know what you’re doing & have a SOLID system in place for
minimizing risks”
OREGON: No regulations re: Produce. (as opposed to poultry, meat
inspections)
OREGON: No regulations re: Produce. (as opposed to poultry, meat
inspections) County Health Inspector Doesn’t care whether food
comes from Sysco or garden, it just needs to be handled
properly!
BTW, does that Commercial garden have a fence??? Just asking…
In Oregon, it’s Not an option NOT to..
• Recycle in Oregon, • Compost in Oregon
*(in many communities)
• You can DO what you want! However.. • EVERYONE is Liable!
Liability…
• USDA’s Take: used to be negative (Don’t serve food from gardens,
don’t compost, etc.). They have changed recently
• STILL uneasiness surrounding SG’s from others….
Liability…
• Respect Biology! The laws of physics and biology apply no matter
what!
• Why (some) people don’t want anything to do w/gardens…
Principals, School Boards, Facilities are afraid of liability
Garden Food Safety • Have a system for:
–TRAINING –DOCUMENTATION
Your County Health Department, Parents, administration will love
you.
Wouldn’t it be cool if someone would create a system for you?
Garden Food Safety • Here you go!
Documentation & Training • Program Contains:
– Companion guide/instructions – Startup Checklist – Weekly
Checklist – USDA Best Practices for Handling Food – Staff training
& log – Student training & log – Composting logs Available
for download on our website
Documentation & Training • This process is not done just to
be
MEAN! Inspector’s common saying: If it isn’t documented… IT DIDN’T
HAPPEN!!!
Documentation & Training • Startup Checklist:
– Soil tested once a year for Lead and contaminants – Irrigation:
Municipal water should be used, if
using other sources, test for total coliform bacteria at least
twice a year
– Irrigation systems should be cleaned and sanitized
regularly.
Documentation & Training • Startup Checklist:
– One person in charge (Typically Garden Coordinator).
– This person should get a county food handler card (cheap and
available At www.orfoodhandler.com)
– Recommended that at least ONE person should be Certified through
a SG Coordinator training • Hey! You’ve done that!!
Documentation & Training • Startup Checklist:
– A few words about raised gardens: – Pressure treated timber –
Railroad ties – Tires
Documentation & Training • Startup Checklist:
– Chemicals, lubricants, fertilizers, paints, cleaning supplies
stored in a locked shed not in close proximity to garden or
food.
– Need to prove seeds/plants come from reputable sources. Don’t
accept food from private home gardens.
Documentation & Training • Weekly Checklist:
– Composting: ODE recommends that you DON’T compost… unless you
know what you’re doing, have a solid system for doing it right, and
train and document your process!
– MONITORED system for collecting cafeteria scraps, responsible
adult or student.
– Staff and Students TRAINED on what to accept – Best practices:
posters and assemblies – Log
Documentation & Training
I just threw these together. They are available at our website, or
make your own.
Documentation & Training • Weekly Checklist:
– Evidence of animals? One of the most asked concerns I get. What
to do with cats, deer..
– Extremely hard situation, you are in THEIR area. – If there is
evidence of abuse, consider fencing. – Big drawback for some
schools NOT to have a
garden by some administrations.
Documentation & Training • Weekly Checklist:
– Fertilizers only applied by (trained) adult – HANDWASHING a must
before entering garden,
or whenever hands become contaminated – Sick people excluded from
activities – SHOES: no flip-flops or bare feet – (non-commercially
prepared) Manure not to be
used
Documentation & Training • Weekly Checklist:
– Serving the food: use USDA Guide if cafeteria doesn’t take care
of prepping and serving*
– Don’t use pesticides/insecticides – No gray water, waste water,
recycled water – Containers used to transport be food grade
and
“cleanable” • No wicker, etc.
Documentation & Training • Staff Training:
– Goes over all of these items in detail. – All staff sign the log
and keep for a year. – Student leaders in charge of compost
stations need
to be trained in this piece.
Documentation & Training • Student Training:
– Ensures they listen to person in charge; and – *Hygiene, Washing
hands a must. – Shoes and “physical safety” like dealing with
tools. – *Eating right out of the garden – *Ill students excluded
(shouldn’t be in school
anyway) – Recommend doing this for each classroom once,
have the class sign the log and keep for a year.
Documentation & Training • Comprehensive Garden Safety
program are available at: www.ode.state.or.us/go/f2sgardens
• Click on the “School Gardens” box and scroll down to the safety
section
• Many other helpful items as well!
Thank you! Feel free to contact me at: Rick Sherman Oregon
Department of Education Farm to School/School Garden Coordinator
503.947.5863
[email protected]
www.ode.state.or.us/f2sgardens
The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against
its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the
bases of race, color, national origin,
age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and
where applicable political beliefs, marital status, familial or
parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an
individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program,
or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or
activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited
bases will apply to all programs and/or employment
activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of
discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint
form, found online at
http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA
office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also
write a letter containing all of the
information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint
form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400
Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax
(202) 690-7442 or email at
[email protected]
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech
disabilities may contact USDA
through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800)
845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and
employer
Slide Number 29
