Carolina Children's Garden Event

Animal Habitats

Date: June 19

Time: 4:00 PM

Length: 60 minutes

Ages: 3rd-6th grade

Cost: $2 per child

See what things animals and plants need to have a good home. Explore the places around Clemson Sandhill REC that provide everything needed for animals and plants to survive.

Carolina Children's Garden Event

Freaky Frogs and Sneaky Snakes

Date: June 12

Time: 4:00 PM

Length: 45 Minutes

Ages: 4 years old-2nd grade

Cost: $2 Per Child

Are snakes slimy? When do frogs look more like fish? Using our gentle live animals, learn about the life cycles, habitats, and importance of our reptiles and amphibians.

SC School Garden Workshop

Are you interested in starting or improving a vegetable garden at your school?

Come join us for a day-long workshop of hands-on gardening training, designed for all skill levels and based on successful Farm-to-School gardens in South Carolina. This workshop will allow you to hear presentations from the Farm-to-School regional coordinators and other educators, as well as the opportunity to meet and network with other teachers and school volunteers.

Join us for a SC School Garden Workshop

June 20, 2012, 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Phillips Market Center

S.C. Farmers Market, 3501 Charleston Hwy., West Columbia S.C.

Registration Requested by June 15, 2012.

Farm to School serve SC Legislatures

Wednesday, May 16, the Department of Agriculture hosted a 'Taste of SC' on State House grounds for the State House and Senate.  The Farm to School program hosted a booth and served Strawberry Salsa with Certified SC Strawberries. Two lucky boys from Farm to School recipient schools helped pass out this delicious treat! The event was a great success and great exposure for the SC Farm to School program! Make sure to try out our Strawberry Salsa recipe while strawberries are still in season!

Strawberry Salsa

Ingredients:

2 fresh jalapeño chilies, finely chopped

2 cups finely chopped strawberries

1/2 cup finely chopped white onion

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 teaspoon fresh lime juice

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

Directions:

Combine chilies, strawberries, onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt and sugar in a medium bowl. Mix gently to combine. Salsa can be made several hours before serving and chilled. Yield: 3 cups.

Betty J. DeWitt Outstanding Educator Award

The South Carolina Farm Bureau State Women's Committee is taking applications for their Betty J. DeWitt Outstanding Educator Award.  They are searching for South Carolina certified teachers of grades Kindergarten through eight who are integrating exemplary agricultural education programs into their school curriculum. The winner receives a cash prize and an expense-paid trip to the South Carolina Farm Bureau Annual Convention in Myrtle Beach, SC, which is held the first weekend in December. Visit the SC Farm Bureau Website for application information and dealine.

Agriculture Programs Enhancing Interest as a Career Field

A recent article published in the Scripps News discussed students who were interested in pursing a career in agriculture because of programming at their schools.  An Anderson County student told reporters that she is settled on working with cattle since she enrolled in agriculture classes in high school and her membership with FFA (Future Farmers of America).

The SC Farm to School program is a key component in encouraging students to continue their studies in agriculture so they can be a part of the next farming generation.  To learn more about the Farm to School program, visit their website or visit their facebook or twitter pages.  There is also a great documentary on the program.

A Special School Program

Williams Middle School enjoyed a recent visit to Ovis Hill Farms. The schedule was tight and brisk but 125 seventh and eighth graders were able to rotate through teaching stations while learning, observing and experiencing food production.  Half the group boarded wagons to observe livestock and visited vegetable production. The other half rotated through a "mock market" scavenger hunt to find different real foods for a healthy diet while others participated in a food preparation station and prepared and sampled a delicious veggie and whole grain dish. Not only were the students very well behaved and seemed interested in the presentations, but later in the afternoon an email was received with wonderful feedback on the group.  The students and adults couldn't stop talking about what a great experience they had!

Learn more about Ovis Hill Farms.