2009: Dec | Nov | Oct | Sept | Aug | July | Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb
Jan
2008: Dec | Nov | Oct | Sept | Aug
Winter Cooking Class at the Student Nutrition Services: On December 16th, Georgeanne Brennan gave a coking class to the staff of the Student Nutrition Services entitled “Incorporating Winter Fruits and Vegetables into the Menu and Flavor Profiles of Southeast Asia”. The lesson featured Southeast Asian dishes such as Vietnamese Spicy Coleslaw and Singapore Egg Noodles with Chicken and Vegetables. Also included was a presentation about the nutritional aspects of winter fruits and vegetables from a member of the DJUSD Nutrition Advisory Committee, Poppy Strode, MS, MPH, RD.
Davis Farm to School Connection Evaluation Grant Renewed: Davis Farm to School has renewed its partnership with the UC Davis Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (UC SAREP) to fund evaluation of their school lunch program. This falls under UC SAREP’s goal of supporting California's rural and urban communities in understanding the concept and value of sustainable agriculture and participating in sustainable food and agricultural systems.
Fresh Herbs Flavor School Lunches: The herb garden outside the Davis Joint Unified School District's central kitchen was recently featured in the Davis Enterprise on November 11th. The garden, planted in March by Davis Farm to School President Dorothy Peterson and her husband Allan, is used extensively by the central kitchen staff to flavor pizzas, pastas, vegetarian dishes and other entrees in their fresh-from-scratch cooking.
Patwin Garden Work Party: Members of the UC Davis Student Nutrition Association gathered on Sunday, November 15th to work in the Patwin Elementary School garden. The students cleared weeds and grass to make way for mulching pathways and winter planting.
Farm to School Announces School Garden Grant Awards: Eleven DJUSD schools received a matching grant of $500 from Davis Farm to School Connection. The PTAs at each school agreed to match the funds, providing $1,000 in total to the gardening programs at Marguerite Montgomery Elementary, Birch Lane Elementary, Fairfield Elementary, North Davis Elementary, Fred Korematsu Elementary, Patwin Elementary, Cesar Chavez Elementary, Willett Elementary, Holmes Junior High, Emerson Junior High and King High.
Art and Ag's Art Farm Event: Over fifty local artists participated in the October 2nd Art Farm event, a unique exhibition of pieces based on Yolo County landscapes. In exchange for a donation of $150, participants were able to take home one of the original pieces. Art and Ag, a joint project of the Davis Farmers Market Foundation, the Yolo Land Trust and Yolo Arts, works to connect farmers and artists in the region.
Garden/RISE Coordinator Meeting: Thirty school site garden and RISE coordinators from throughout the district gathered at Marguerite Montgomery Elementary on October 1st, hosted by the Davis Farm to School Connection. The meeting included tips on scarecrow building from Avenue of the Scarecrows coordinator Carrie Juchau, a tour of Montgomery's garden and recycling programs and a chance for coordinators to share challenges and successes.The afternoon finished with a delicious, seasonal meal catered by Student Nutrition Services.
The Last Crop Film Screening: Davis Farm to School Connection partnered with Slow Food Yolo to present the film The Last Crop on October 9th. Held at the Davis Senior High School Performing Arts Building, the screening's proceeds benefit Davis Farm to School Connection (in particular the second grade farm visits) and Davis Senior High School's Future Farmers of America. The twenty-three minute work-in-progress film, featuring Jeff and Annie Main of Good Humus Produce, highlighted the difficulties of sustaining a small farm and passing it on to the next generation.
The Avenue of Scarecrows: This annual fundraiser for Davis school gardens was held on October 31st at the Davis Farmers Market, in conjunction with the Fall Festival. Students, teachers and parent volunteers worked together to design and create themed scarecrows that were displayed for auction. The money raised from the scarecrows, a total of $1,462, goes directly back to the school garden programs. Several scarecrows were sponsored by local businesses or individuals: Davis Food Coop, Davis Ace Hardware, Dr. Tomaich Dentistry, The Enterprise, Rhonda Adams, and Fulcrum Management Group.
Measure Q Funds Boost Local Produce in School Lunch: A recent report released by the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program shows a 21% increase in local fresh fruits and vegetables used in the school lunch program over last year, thanks in large part to Measure Q funds. The report was featured in a front page article in the Davis Enterprise.
North Davis Elementary PTA Receives Silver Award: Kristin Muir, physical education teacher, and the NDE PTA won the Governor's Physical Fitness Spotlight Silver Award for their innovations in fitness and wellness activities. The school was only one of three in the state to receive the award. NDE was honored for their variety of programs including fitness education classes, jump rope and running clubs and programs supported by Davis Farm to School Connection (Crunch Lunch salad bar, garden-based learning and recycling/composting programs).
Garden and Cooking Classes: This semester's Sacramento State University intern John has already begun teaching gardening and cooking classes at Cesar Chavez Elementary. For his first cooking class, fifth and sixth grade students made salsa, using peppers and tomatoes from the school garden. We look forward to having John work with us during the fall!
Mad City Chickens: On August 8th Davis Farm to School Connection hosted a film screening of the documentary Mad City Chickens as a benefit for DF2SC programs. In partnership with Slow Food Yolo and the Davis Food Co-op, new DF2SC Steering Committee member Jacqueline Clemens organized the screening at the Richard Brunelle Center for the Performing Arts at Davis Senior High School. Mad City Chickens is a sometimes serious, sometimes whimsical look at the people who keep urban chickens in their backyards. From chicken experts and authors to a rescued landfill hen or an inexperienced family that decides to take the poultry plunge - and even a mad scientist and giant hen taking to the streets - it's a humorous and heartfelt trip through the world of backyard chickendom. The screening attracted nearly 300 attendees and made over $2,500 for Davis Farm to School, as well as gathered much interest for DF2SC’s Bicycle Chicken Coop Tour scheduled for May of 2010.
The Village Feast: The 5th Annual Village Feast was on August 22nd in Central Park in Davis. A fundraiser for Davis Farm to School Connection, and in partnership with Slow Food Yolo, the event was a late summer celebration of Yolo County food, wine and agriculture in the tradition of a Provencal Grand Aioli. Approximately 300 people were seated around one long table under the shade of the Sycamore trees, and enjoyed refreshing afternoon breezes while sipping watermelon fresca and wine. The menu featured food all sourced from the Davis Farmer’s Market, including the grilled lamb, roasted summer vegetables, organic eggs and fresh fruit tarts that signaled the end of the slow leisurely meal. The Silent Auction was a success, as there was much enthusiasm around many items such as the “live” painting of your table at the Village Feast, the Taco Truck-catered party, the house in Provence, and all of the food and wine related items as well. Davis Farm to School Connection would like to extend their gratitude to all the sponsors, volunteers, and donations that make this event possible year after year.
School Garden Walk–Abouts: On July 13th and 14th Davis Farm to School Connection joined the Davis Joint Unified School District maintenance and operations staff Jim Herrington on a “Garden Walk-About” at every school site in the district. These Walk-Abouts are scheduled every odd numbered year to ensure clear and productive communication and working relationships between school gardens and DJUSD maintenance staff. DF2SC President Dorothy Peterson and Program Coordinator Talia Hack-Davie scheduled 45 minute time slots with every school’s garden and/or recycle coordinator in order to walk the site and designate district and school site responsibilities and address grounds issues. DF2SC is so grateful that DJUSD Grounds Crew Leader Jim Herrington is continually supportive of all Davis Farm to School Connection programs.
5th Annual Custodial Awards Luncheon: On July 16th Davis Farm to School Connection hosted a luncheon for the custodial and maintenance and operations staff of the Davis Joint Unified School District at Holmes Junior High. Over 70 attended and enjoyed the seasonally prepared lunch by DF2SC President Dorothy Peterson. Peterson presented five custodians with an Outstanding Custodian Award and a stipend for $75. These custodians were nominated by staff at their school site for their participation and support of recycling efforts at their school – a duty above and beyond their call of duty. DJUSD Superintendent Dr. James Hammond addressed the group as lunch began, commending all custodial and maintenance staff for their cooperation and support of Davis Farm to School programs. Now in our tenth year of work within the school district, we have learned that an enthusiastic and willing custodian has not only the power to positively benefit recycling efforts at a school site, but is crucial to the success of these programs.
UC Davis Children’s Garden Workshop: North Davis Elementary DavisRISE (Recycling is Simply Elementary) Coordinator Carolyn Teragawa presented at a UCD Children’s Garden Workshop this month. As a representative of Davis Farm to School Connection’s DavisRISE program, Teragawa outlined the program to all workshop attendees who came from all over Northern California. Teragawa has set up a successful system of student volunteers who help separate waste at lunch time helping to eliminate over half the amount of garbage entering the landfills. Students at North Davis Elementary recycle all plastics, paper, glass, and food scraps (as compost for the school garden). They also recycle juice containers through a program called TerraCycle.
Davis Farm to School Hosts Chamber Lunch: On June 2nd the Davis Farm to School Connection hosted a luncheon for the members of the Davis City Chamber of Commerce. Lunch was catered by the Davis Joint Unified School District’s Student Nutrition Services and highlighted local seasonal produce served in the school cafeterias. The Chamber especially enjoyed the crunchy asparagus and fresh cherries for dessert. Associate Superintendent Bruce Colby spoke during lunch on behalf of the Davis Farm to School Connection and emphasized the indispensable benefits of the garden, recycling and healthy school lunch programs supported by the organization.
Pint-size Chefs in the Classroom: This spring the Davis Farm to School Connection piloted a Cooking in the Classroom program at Montgomery Elementary school in Davis. Sara Enwright, an intern from the Sacramento State University Community Nutrition Program, planned and taught the cooking lessons to students grades first through fourth. Using simple recipes from the California Department of Education publication Kids Cook Farm Fresh, Sara planned lessons that incorporated seasonal vegetables served as part of school lunch and growing in the school garden. According to participating teachers, students seemed to most enjoy the broccoli with cheese sauce! Cooking seems to be one of the best forms of nutrition education. By supporting more eating of seasonal fruits and vegetables through cooking in the classroom programs, the Davis Farm to School Connection hopes to encourage healthy food choices in students.
Davis School Lunch Team Cooks for Alice Waters: Rafaelita Curva, director of the Davis Joint Unified School District’s Student Nutrition Services, and the school lunch teams had a chance to show off their cooking skills for Alice Waters, a major instigator of the improving school lunch movement, when Waters came to Winters to speak at a benefit for the Center for Land-Based Learning. Bite-sized appetizers made from locally grown and milled polenta were prepared and served by the Student Nutrition Services employees to the acclaim of the more than 200 people attending the event. Many guests were surprised to taste a sample of the delicious food now offered as part of school lunch throughout the district.
Green School Expo: On May 23rd students from DaVinci High School, Harper Junior High, and representatives from many elementary schools gathered in Central Park to showcase some of the work that students throughout the district have engaged in related to sustainability and “green” practices. The Davis Farm to School Connection had a seed planting booth, and DavisRISE showcased some school composting techniques. Both Mayor Ruth Asmundson and school board member Gina Daleiden spoke to the benefits of incorporating “green” curriculum into the schools.
City/ School District Partnership Award: On May 28th, Dorothy Peterson, chair of the Davis Farm to School Connection, was surprised at a joint Davis City Council/School Board meeting when ceremoniously presented with the City/Schools Partnership Award. Dorothy was honored for her long-standing commitment to incorporating gardens and recycling programs into the schools.
Feast Locally: The 5th Annual Village Feast will take place this summer on August 22nd at 12:00 noon under the Sycamore Trees in Central Park in Davis. Guests will enjoy local wines and a leisurely lunch made with seasonal ingredients sourced from the Davis Farmer’s Market. The event, sponsored by Slow Food Yolo and Davis Farm to School Connection, is a fundraiser for Davis Farm to School Connection, and supports school gardens, second grade farm visits, recycling programs in the schools and local, seasonal produce in the school lunch program. Tickets go on sale June 1st and can be purchased from the website, www.davisfarmtoschool.org, and at the Davis Food Co-op.
Turn “Junk” Into Art: The 4th Annual Recycled Art Faire Earth Day Celebration was on April 22nd in Central Park. Sponsored by the Davis Farm to School Connection, the event showcased works of art, practical items, and fashion accessories created from used, surplus, or found materials.
Out on the Farm: This spring 17 second grade classes from within the Davis Joint Unified School District participated in a Davis Farm to School Connection Farm Visit. Classes visited one of four local organic farms: Good Humus Produce in Capay, Full Circle Farm in Davis, Pacific Star Gardens in Woodland, or The Farm on Putah Creek at the Center for Land Based Learning in Winters. Students had the opportunity to learn about organic methods of farming, help out with some farm work, and taste some fresh farm produce. Each Farm Visit was then followed by an Artist in the Classroom art activity related to their farm experience, sponsored by Art in Ag, a project of the Yolo County Arts Council. Art projects ranged from bean mosaics to ceramic sculptures.
A New Herb Garden: Davis Farm to School Connection is pleased to announce that the Davis Joint Unified School District Central Kitchen now has its very own herb garden! Davis Farm to School Connection President Dorothy Peterson and her husband Allan planted a dozen herbs in front of the Central Kitchen building on 5th street. Most of the transplants provided were contributed from Davis High School teacher Amy Schulte’s horticultural classes, and included Chives, Spearmint, Fennel, Sage, Thyme, Marjoram, and Lavender. The purpose of the herb garden is to provide fresh herbs on a daily basis for the Central Kitchen staff to use in their fresh-from-scratch cooking, which includes salads, soups, pizzas, rice bowls, casseroles, chicken and turkey dishes as well as vegetarian.
Farm to School consultant, Georgeanne Brennan, has been working with the staff since winter, 2007, providing monthly culinary instruction that includes the use of fresh herbs. As the staff became knowledgeable about fresh herbs and their flavor profiles, they wanted to increase their use in the scratch cooking. It was decided that an on-site herb garden would begin to answer that need.
Locally Grown Spring Vegetables on the Menu: Each season the DJUSD Nutrition Services produces a seasonal menu, indicating what vegetables and fruits will be available during the season. The spring menu runs from now through the end of school in June, so students will be tasting a wide range of locally grown vegetables from sugar snap peas, late cabbage, asparagus, young carrots, and kiwis to early cherry tomatoes, strawberries, and early zucchini toward the end of May and early June.
Georgeanne Brennan offered a Get Ready for Spring Vegetable class on March 12 to the Central Kitchen staff, that included new ways to use local and seasonal vegetables in the spring menu. Please enjoy a sample recipe from this cooking class - click here.
Garden and Recycling Coordinators Workshop: On February 12th Davis Farm to School Connection hosted a mini-workshop at Pioneer Elementary for all the Garden and Recycling Coordinators in the district. The Compost Curriculum workshop included close encounters with worms to engage students in science and language arts lessons. The Garden Crafts for School Garden Fundraising workshop featured rosemary wreath making – turning school landscape plants into income for the gardens. Davis Farm to School Connection hosts these meetings three times a year for all Garden and Recycle Coordinators. The next meeting will be on Thursday, May 7th at North Davis Elementary.
New School Cooking Classes: Davis Farm to School recently gained a Nutrition intern from Sacramento State University. Sara will be piloting cooking classes at elementary schools in Davis, using seasonal produce. Her first cooking lesson with a second grade class at Montgomery Elementary made Broccoli with Cheese Sauce, and it was a big hit. Over 75% of the class gave the recipe a thumbs up!
Green School Initiative: This month we continued our preliminary planning and visioning meetings with members of the Davis Joint Unified School District’s new Green Schools Initiative. The Green Schools Initiative aims to function as an umbrella movement, drawing in green interests throughout the district, from bicycling, to alternative energy, to farm to school projects. We are excited to be forming a new partnership within the district with the goal of sustainability of programs.
DavisRISE Awarded Grant, Recycling Competition Launched: January 20th marked the launch of a Davis RISE (Recycling is Simply Elementary) recycling competition between four secondary schools in Davis. This competition was initiated due to the arrival of 50 clear-stream recycling containers to Harper, Emerson, and Holmes Junior Highs, and Davis Senior High School. The Davis RISE program, the recycling program of Davis Farm to School Connection, was one of five programs in California, and one of 85 out of a total of 1,400 applicants nationally, to be awarded a grant to support recycling efforts. The school that recycles the most bottles and cans at the end of the school year will be awarded a perpetual trophy. This competition allows students to illustrate the impact of keeping bottles and cans out of the landfill, and allows students to raise money from the recyclables they redeem.
Citrus Cooking Class at the Student Nutrition Services: On January 21st of this month, Georgeanne Brennan gave a seasonal cooking class to the Student Nutrition Services (SNS) staff, highlighting citrus as this month’s local and seasonal produce. SNS staff tasted several unusual varieties of citrus such as Satsuma mandarins, blood oranges, and Rangpur limes, before launching into their three recipes: Rice Noodles with Thai Peanut Sauce, Chicken Salad with Ginger, Mint, and Mandarins, and Spicy Soup of Mandarin and Coconut.
UC Davis Student Nutrition Association Volunteers: On the last day of this month, 25 UC Davis Student Nutrition Association volunteers descended on the school garden of Birch Lane Elementary to prepare ground for the planting of fruit trees, to spread mulch, and clear out winter weeds in early preparation for spring planting.
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