Stories from 2022 NH Farm to School Month

To celebrate Farm to School Month, we asked teachers, school food service, parents, and other youth program leaders to share what they grew in their school and community gardens this year and how they connected their communities with farm to school work and values. View the stories and photos below! 

Tara Happy, Environmental Science Teacher at Hollis Primary School in Hollis
“Last year kindergarten students planted squash and this year they harvested and got to taste them!” 

Jess Gerrior, Cornucopia Project’s School Garden Program at the ConVal School District elementary schools and the Fuller School in Keene
“Cornucopia Project joined in with other community organizations at Open House school events across the ConVal District this month as well as a resource fair and mobile food pantry hosted by The Grapevine Community & Family Resource Center. Families at the elementary and middle schools in Peterborough, Antrim, and surrounding towns tasted fresh veggies grown by student farmers, tallied their favorites, got to know our garden educators, and signed up to volunteer in the school gardens.”

Emily Wilson, 4th Grade Teacher in Somersworth
“Emily adapted lessons from the NH Harvest of the Month calendar this school year to share during lunch times, while students sampled the featured monthly produce prepared by our food service providers from Cafe Services. The lessons include the sustainability of eating locally, fun food trivia, and drawing connections to curriculum content where relevant. Emily is sharing the lessons with other school staff, in hopes our other schools adopt Farm to School Fridays with her ready-to-go activities. This month she borrowed from the Massachusetts Harvest of the Month calendar because apples seemed a better gateway food for 8-10 year olds than kale did. One student’s reaction to the apples sampled was “this is the apple I’ve always dreamed about.” Our USDA Farm to School grant has empowered us to purchase local produce through Three River Farmers Alliance, a streamlined farm cooperative helping us eat locally and support the local farming economy. We’ll continue Farm to School Fridays at Maple Wood, and invite our other schools to join the fun of trying fresh, healthy, locally sourced food.”