SARANAC LAKE — The Adirondack Farm to School Initiative is working with schools and communities to rebuild a healthy food system in the Adirondacks by creating a connection between classroom, cafeteria, community, and local farms.
The goal of this initiative is to enrich children’s bodies and minds, while supporting local economies, bringing local food into school cafeterias, and creating hands-on learning activities such as school gardens, farm visits, culinary classes, and the integration of food-related education into the regular classroom curriculum.
The Saranac Lake School district is proud to be one of 82 projects spanning 42 states and the Virgin Islands receiving support this year through the USDA Farm to School Program.
Grant money has been used to acquire equipment for preserving the local produce, making it available year-round.
Participating farms are Juniper Hill Farm in Wadhams, Fledging Crow Vegetables out of Keeseville and Rulfs Orchard in Peru.
The cafeterias are also using produce grown by students in the Garden Club and Earth Science Class in gardens located at Bloomingdale, Petrova, and Saranac Lake High School campuses.
The district is now well on their way to the goal of having at least 15 percent of cafeteria produce from local sources.
Lake Placid started an “I Tasted It” program last spring. Wynde Reese, co-owner of the Green Goddess Natural Market, came to the Elementary School to hand out fresh local vegetables. Students who tasted all five items got to sign their name on a large poster with the “I Tasted It” logo on it. Students enjoyed the event, many asking for seconds. Farm to School grant monies made this event possible
In celebration of October being National Farm to School month, the 3rd annual Farm to school Festival with be held on Friday, October 2.
Festivities will take place at Petrova School from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Previously this festival has been held in the spring, but is being held in October this year to better celebrate fall harvest. The festival will feature local foods along with recipes used in the Jr. Iron Chef competition this past spring. The musical guest will be Story Laurie, who was named 2013 “Best Children’s Performer” by Hudson Magazine. Laurie McIntosh (aka Story Laurie) enchants listeners of all ages with her delightful renditions of folk tales and socially conscious songs for kids and families.
The Adirondack Farm to School Initiative works in collaboration with Adirondack North Country Association, North Country Food Day Youth Summit, Paul Smith’s College, Saranac Lake School District, Lake Placid Central School District, Tupper Lake School District, The Wild Center, Cornell Cooperative Extension, North Country Healthy Heart Network, and Adirondack Harvest.
For more information about the initiative or to learn how you can help, contact the Adirondack Farm to School Coordinator Ruth Pino at 897-1462 or pinorut@slcs.org.
