Don't forget...

Don't forget about the SC Farm to School pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com/scfarmtoschool/boards/)!!!

Pinterest Boards include:  Local Produce in SC Schools, SC Food Gardens, School Garden Ideas, Upcoming Events, SC Farm to School Recipes, Garden Inspiration, Just for Fun and Nutrition!  Boards are updated regularily!

Garden Inspiration

BOONANZA at the State Farmers Market-THIS FRIDAY

Celebrate fall and Halloween at BOONANZA at the State Farmers Market October 25 in the Certified SC Grown Farmers Sheds. The free trunk-or-treat event is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. or while candy supplies last.

Bring your little ones for a safe trick-or-treating venue, where they will enjoy both candy and healthy treats. Bouncy houses, agriculture activity areas, and pumpkin painting are all part of the event. Pumpkins will be available for purchase, but the painting is a free activity.

BOONANZA at the State Farmers Market 
October 25, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
State Farmers Market 
3483 Charleston Hwy., W. Columbia, SC
Certified SC Grown Farmers Sheds

Carolina Children's Garden Update

The Carolina Children's Garden at Sandhills (900 Clemson Rd, Columbia, SC 29229) is proud of their most recent installation.  Through generous donations and grant funding, the garden has dedicated a "Fountain for Youth" to Ann Lewis, Richland County Master Gardener.  The drinking fountain is for people and pets, hikers and visitors!!

Upcoming events at the Garden:

• Programs and fundraisers with Children and Gardening Authors
• Planting healthy foods and harvesting them
• Decorating the garden for the Holidays
• Saturday programs for children
• Arbor Day activities

Arbor Day activities are scheduled for Friday, December 6th at 4pm.  There will be tree plantings and the first 100 children to attend will receive a free Virginia Pine Christmas Tree seedling.

For more information on any of the above, visit the Carolina Children's Garden website at carolinachildrensgarden.org.

SC School Garden Workshops

In order for a school to participate in the Farm to School program they must abide by a set of criteria.  They must promote the Certified SC Grown program with signage, serve at least two SC Grown fruits or vegetables in the cafeteria, incorporate agriculture and nutrition into lesson plans and construct a school garden.  To assist schools with establishing a garden, the Farm to School program hosted two SC School Garden Workshops this summer.  Both workshops were hands-on, designed for all skill levels and spotlighted successful Farm to School gardens in South Carolina.  There were presentations from regional garden educators and experts and demonstrations of “square foot gardening”.  Participants even made and took home fantastic garden crafts.  Each workshop had over 50 attendees and they were considered huge successes.  The SC Farm to School program is excited to see how attendees improve upon their school gardens and hope they implement strategies discussed at the workshops. 

TEAM NUTRITION RESOURCES

The USDA's Team Nutrition has released two exciting new curriculum resources!

Dig In! helps kids, teachers, and parents explore a world of possibilities in the garden and on the plate using ten inquiry-based lessons that engage 5th and 6th graders in growing, harvesting, tasting, and learning about fruits and vegetables. Dig In! also includes a gardening guide, booklets for parents/caregivers, and six dynamic posters encouraging fruit and vegetable choices using themes that appeal to older elementary school children.                     

The Great Garden Detective Adventure is focused on discovering what fruits and vegetables are sweetest, crunchiest, and juiciest through a series of investigations and fun experiences connecting the school garden to the classroom, school cafeteria, and home. This eleven-lesson curriculum for 3rd and 4th grades includes bulletin board materials, veggie dice, fruit and vegetable flash cards, and ten issues of Garden Detective News for parents/caregivers.

We are working to upload both of these resources to our website!! Please check with us soon at scfarmtoschool.com!!

MIDLANDS CHOPPED!!

Recently, Lexington-Richland 5 recreated the Food Network's "Chopped" program. There were five teams of cafeteria workers from HE Corley, Crossroads Middle, Irmo High, Chapin Middle and Dutch Fork High. All teams used USDA approved ingredients, pantry items and a local mystery ingredient.

Irmo High won with a plate of sauteed chicken topped with mango slices, steamed collards, fried tomato and pasta salad with chopped kale and red peppers!! GO YELLOW JACKETS!!

We love all the ways SC schools are incorporating new nutrition guidelines and creating fabulous meals for students. Please share with us stories and ways your school cafeteria is changing!!