NEW Food Education in the Classroom Microcredential for K-5 educators! Next session: Sept.7-Oct. 18.
In my role as a FoodCorps service member, I am tasked with three interconnected pillars of work that, done together, can help transform kids’ relationships to food. They are: teaching kids about healthy food and where it comes from, engaging kids in hands-on gardening and cooking lessons, and working with school food staff to get healthy food from … Continued
FoodCorps service member Erin Jackson was recently asked to speak on Montana Public Radio for the Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO) to share her experience as a school garden educator and her ability to connect kids to real food through hands-on gardening activities. AERO is a grassroots membership organization serving as Montana’s hub for sustainable … Continued
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
Creative lessons can encourage all kinds of learners to try nourishing foods.
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
“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
“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 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.
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
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