DeKalb Farm to School Stakeholders Meeting

Did you know farm to school programs help kids to eat healthier and support family farms? Did you know healthy kids are smarter kids? Attend the first DeKalb Farm to School meeting, and  find out more about other initiatives in the U.S. and Georgia,  and what it takes to launch a farm to school program.

Participants will learn about local resources and share their own farm to school projects. Challenges, opportunities and first steps for DeKalb County will be explored, and the group will begin planning a strategy for the DeKalb County Farm to School program.   This first meeting will be facilitated by Georgia Organics.

When:  March 23, 2011. 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Why: to review Farm to School opportunities, challenges and next steps for DeKalb County; and to leverage the help and expertise of community volunteers.

Where:  Fernbank Elementary 157 Heaton Park Dr NE Atlanta, GA 30307-1399 (in the cafeteria)

Who: Anybody who is interested in participating in a DeKalb County Farm to School program. Parents, teachers, school nutrition staff, administrators, community members, Master Gardeners, farmers, organizations, government agencies, etc.

RSVP and Questions:   Contact Rosalie Ezekiel at rosalie@eparchitects.com

Farm to School Hearing with U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss and Tom Harkin, Friday, May 15, at CDC

Join us Friday, May 15, at the CDC for a public hearing on Farm to School projects, Healthy Eating, and Physical Activity for School Children.

We need you there to show Sen. Chambliss and Sen. Harkin that we want thriving Farm to School programs in Georgia. This hearing will be submitted to the official record for all Senate Agriculture Committee members to review. Sen. Chambliss (R-GA) and Sen. Harkin (D-IA) will both be in attendance.

This a rare opportunity for the sustainable food and farms movement to show its support for getting local, fresh, and sustainably produced foods into school cafeterias across the state.

Witnesses will include representatives from:
- the CDC
- the USDA
- Action for Healthy Kids, and
- the National Farm to School Network

For a primer on how Farm to School programs are connected to nutrition and agricultural policy, read this report.

The Georgia Field Hearing is sponsored by the Senate Committee on Ag, Nutrition, and Forestry.

"Benefits of Farm-to-School Projects, Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for School Children. "

Date: Friday, May 15, 2009
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Roybal Campus of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Harkin Global Communication Center, Auditorium A
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30329

Please Note: Bring identification and arrive early to allow plenty of time for parking.
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Many thanks to Dan Magee for sending us this post. Please pass this along to all those concerned about school nutrition.