Government Shutdown Risks Millions of Families’ Well-Being
Reasons to Love a Small Town
In a town the size of Red Lodge, it’s easy to feel like you know everyone. I’ve often connected with other service members in small towns about the difficulty of getting anywhere on time because inevitably you will stop to talk to someone along the way. Despite the delays sometimes, I love running into parents; … Continued
The First Bite: Encouraging Eaters with Autism Spectrum Disorder
There’s nothing more satisfying than hearing a student proclaim, “This is DELICIOUS,” with a mouth dyed bright pink from a beet smoothie, or watching them devour the roots and the greens of a raw baby turnip without being prompted. As a FoodCorps Service Member at Magnolia Speech School, a specialized school for children with communication … Continued
Farm to School: Served Up Three Different Ways
Back when the yellow tamaracks and aspens gave Western Montana a shocking amount of fall color, FoodCorps members from around the state convened at the jubilant DIY get-together that is the annual conference for the Alternative Energy Resources Organization, or AERO. There, sometime between the pie contest and the square dance, Demetrius Fassas of Ennis, … Continued
Two Bites of Confidence
“Hey! You are the teacher that helps us not to be afraid of trying new foods!” I hear these words from a sweet five year old girl, “Alice.” She is proudly holding a piece of pear in her hand as I mill through the lunch room, encouraging students to try our new menu item, tabbouleh. … Continued
A Classroom Ceremony for Food
“All hail kale!” we cheered with our forks raised before chomping down on bites of kale salad. It was my second class of the day with the fifth graders at Ronan Middle School, who had just finished making three variations of Massaged Kale Salad: Basic, Greek, and Spice it Up. After the salads were ready, … Continued
It’s an Alien! It’s a Spaceship! Nope, it’s…
“It looks like a baby alien!” “A space ship!” “A forest of mini Christmas trees!” Those were just a few of the remarks I heard when I arrived at Traverse Heights Elementary School in Traverse City to promote the locally grown produce being served in the cafeteria.
Lessons from Detroit: Growing Healthy Communities by Working with what We’ve Got
Alyssa Charney is a Service Member in Red Lodge. As I furiously packed, attempted to reschedule three days of classes, and rushed away early from our annual Food Partnership Council celebration, I couldn’t help but be a bit frustrated that the midyear FoodCorps gathering in Detroit was pulling me away from a busy schedule of … Continued
Life After FoodCorps
As spring marches forward the question comes with increasing frequency: “So, Natasha… what’s next?” This may sound preemptive to address in April, five months before the FoodCorps end of service in August. The end of my time in Ennis may be a long way off, but it already seems to be in the thoughts of … Continued
Garden Dreams
Teena Thompson is a Service Member in Rocky Boy. We wonder if we will ever get to garden again on this cold January day with snow blanketing all of our land here in Rocky Boy Reservation. As temperatures drop below zero, it seems like a far-fetched dream. But dreams are important. A Rocky Boy sunrise … Continued
Frosty Gardening in Boulder
“These are the best carrots in the whole world!” “No they aren’t. The best carrots ever grow here in Boulder!” This debate between two 5thgrade boys on which carrots were tastier: their morning snack of carrots from Western Montana Grower’s Cooperative or local Boulder Elementary School garden carrots was one in which I was happy … Continued