News & Media

Yolo Farm to Fork Welcomes New Executive Director

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 18:27:32 GMT

Salvador Ramirez will serve as our new Executive Director.

We're excited to share that we have hired Salvador Ramirez as our new Executive Director. In this position, Ramirez will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of our mission, which includes nurturing healthy eating habits for Yolo County children and families, encouraging hands-on education, and building a stronger local community food system.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, Ramirez earned a Master of Public Administration with a Health Concentration from the Heller School- Brandeis University.

Previously, Ramirez has worked as a Program Manager for Philanthropy Projects with the California Council on Science and Technology and as a Migrant Regional Manager for the National Head Start Association. Ramirez has volunteered with the Peace Corps in Kazakhstan, developing a curriculum to instruct students on environmental practices. He also served as the Honorary Mayor of Carmichael.

“I am excited to join Yolo Farm to Fork as its new Executive Director and to lead us into a new era of growth and impact,” states Ramirez. “I am especially looking forward to strengthening our community partnerships and advocating for a healthy food system.”

“We couldn't be more excited to have Sal join our team!” shares Yolo Farm to Fork President Suzanne Falzone. “He comes to us with a decade of experience with nonprofits, a love of growing food, and a commitment to empowering children and families while planting the seeds of their healthy living.”

Join us in warmly welcoming Salvador Ramirez to our team!

Yolo Farm to Fork Welcomes New Director of Programs

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 23:40:11 GMT

Yolo Farm to Fork Welcomes New Director of Programs

Yolo Farm to Fork has welcomed Dr. Lisa Daniels as our new Director of Programs. Dr. Daniels will be responsible for developing and implementing educational programming and supervising all staff and activities associated with our programs.

Dr. Daniels received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio/Television from San Francisco State University; a Master of Arts degree in Bilingual/Multicultural Education from CSU Sacramento; and a Doctor of Education degree in Reading, Literacy, and Assessment from Walden University.

Dr. Daniels is an Adjunct Professor at Sierra College, Sacramento City College, and American River College. As an educator for over 20 years, Dr. Daniels has served as an Expanded Learning Director and developed enrichment programming for students who participated in after-school activities. She has helped develop a culturally responsive literacy curriculum for grades 3-5 and a trauma-informed training curriculum for healthcare professionals treating the LGBTQIA+ community.

In addition to educational experience, Dr. Daniels also brings nonprofit leadership to her role. Dr. Daniels has served as Executive Director of the Unsung Heroes Living History Project. She founded this nonprofit in 2000 when she discovered that her grandmother had been a “Riveter,” but found limited information about Blacks and African Americans in the military.

Dr. Daniels feels “honored to be a part of the Yolo Farm to Fork team,” calling her new position “an opportunity to teach youth the importance of growing food and eating healthily.”

“We are delighted to welcome Lisa Daniels to our team,” says Yolo Farm to Fork President Suzanne Falzone. “She brings energy, advocacy and expertise to our expanding education programs aimed at growing the next generation of healthy children.”

Yolo Farm to Fork Receives Donation from Woodland Clinic Medical Group

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 16:23:50 GMT

Woodland Clinic Medical Group donated $136,000 to support the work of local nonprofit, Yolo Farm to Fork. This donation will fund the “Growing Lunch” program in eight schools in the Woodland Joint Unified School District (WJUSD) for the 2022-2023 school year.

“Partnering with Yolo County Farm to Fork expands on the commitments of Woodland Clinic Medical Group to promote health equity in our community through healthy eating,” says Karen Hopp, MD, CEO of Woodland Clinic Medical Group. “Childhood obesity is preventable, and learning that good nutrition tastes great is an excellent first step.”

“The food we eat is an important determinant of health,” says Dr. Samuel Siegel. “Fast food and junk food are prevalent in our current food ecosystem, and eating unhealthy foods in excess can lead to kids developing health concerns like obesity, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure as teenagers and adults.”

According to Dr. Siegel, Woodland Clinic Medical Group identified Yolo Farm To Fork as “an organization that is working to lower the rates of childhood obesity in our community by teaching children how to grow their own food, and that healthy eating is not only fun and rewarding — but delicious!”

“This donation will go a long way towards helping our students learn about creating sustainable gardens and eating healthy meals,” said WJUSD Superintendent Elodia Ortega-Lampkin. “Through the Growing Lunch program, our students are growing and harvesting fresh produce and eating healthy fruits and vegetables straight from their own gardens at school. This is an added benefit for our students and our district.”

Yolo Farm to Fork President Suzanne Falzone says the nonprofit was “surprised and deeply honored at the generosity of the Woodland Clinic Medical Group clinicians. Dignity Health Woodland Clinic shares our goal of improving the nutrition and good health of the families who go to their clinic and our Woodland schools. Their donation will allow us to continue sustaining the gardens managed by our staff and interns in Woodland schools.”

Falzone adds that in the past three years, “in spite of COVID, Woodland student gardeners have grown and harvested over 15,000 pounds of fresh fruit and veggies for use in student meals and snacks."

About Woodland Clinic Medical Group

Woodland Clinic Medical Group (WCMG) was established in 1911 and has been committed to providing exceptional patient care in the Woodland and Davis communities ever since. WCMG consists of approximately 100 physicians and 60 licensed health care professionals who provide care at Dignity Health Woodland Clinic, which has locations in Woodland and Davis, as well as Woodland Memorial Hospital.

About Dignity Health Woodland Clinic

Dignity Health Woodland Clinic, a service of Dignity Health Medical Foundation, is a multi-specialty clinic with seven locations in Woodland and Davis. Along with Woodland Memorial Hospital, we offer an integrated care delivery system that provides primary care for family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics. Learn more here: www.dhmf.org/woodland

Farm Field Trips to Return!

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 02:33:08 GMT

We're bringing back our popular “Go Visit a Farm!” progra m this fall! Your donations on May 5, the Big Day of Giving, will support sending Yolo County students to visit a local organic farm.

At Yolo Farm to Fork, we’re pleased to announce that we will be reviving our popular “Go Visit a Farm!” program . On May 5, the Big Day of Giving , all donations received will support sending Yolo County students to visit a local organic farm.

What is “Go Visit a Farm?”

“Go Visit a Farm!” is a program that provides 4th-6th grade students with a unique field trip to a local farm. In 2022, participating students will visit either La Tourangelle Community Garden in Woodland or Fiery Ginger Farm in West Sacramento.

During the pandemic, many schools stopped offering field trips. Because of this, our “Go Visit a Farm!” program has been put on hold since 2020. Now that more schools are allowing off-site educational experiences, we are excited to again launch farm-based field trips.

Field Trip Activities

What does a typical farm field trip include? Students participate in:

· Farm exploration

· Interactive discussions

· Hands-on farm activities that incorporate school curriculum topics and make farm-to-table connections

Every student participates in a harvest activity and is encouraged to sample the produce they harvest. Other learning activities might focus on:

· Identifying parts of a flower

· Growing vegetables at home

· Pruning and caring for a fruit tree

· Keeping livestock

· Vermicomposting with worms

· Recognizing beneficial insects and birds

Support Us on Big Day of Giving

On May 5, 2022, Yolo Farm to Fork will participate in the 10th annual Big Day of Giving. We have set an ambitious goal to fundraise $5,000 by midnight on May 5. We plan to use these funds to send 150 students to “Go Visit a Farm!”

Want to show your support for our goal and our mission? Here are three ways you can support our goal:

1. GIVE: You can donate to Yolo Farm to Fork by visiting www.bigdayofgiving.org on Thursday, May 5, and making a gift with a credit or debit card. Donations as little as $15 make a big difference, and your gifts can help us win some of the prizes that are up for grabs!

If you’d like, starting Thursday, April 21, you can schedule your gift in advance of the Big Day of Giving, just so you don’t forget! If you make a donation in a loved one’s honor, the website will send that person an email to let them know.

2. CREATE : Rally your networks to give during Big Day of Giving with a fundraising page! Click the “Fundraise” button on Yolo Farm to Fork’s profile on the Big Day of Giving website. Build a page to encourage your friends to give, too. Share the link with your friends and family, so their gifts contribute to your campaign!

3. SHARE: Let your networks know that you support our cause by sharing our posts on your social media accounts, or by creating and sharing a fundraising campaign. A good word from a donor like you is the most meaningful way for us to spread our mission.

Use your social media networks or email to share your love for gardens, learning, and children—and ask others to do the same. You can find some ready-made graphics and messaging at www.bigdayofgiving.org .

Where to Find School Garden Resources

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 18:43:41 GMT

Once you’ve received permission to start a school garden and selected a location , you might wonder rces to create your swhere to find school garden resources. From soil to seeds to funding, you’ll need a variety of resouchool garden and sustain it over time. Here are a few places in California where you can find school garden resources.

Grants

Many nonprofits and businesses offer grants for school gardens. In general, the more local the organization is, the easier it is to secure the grant. You may wish to use grant funds to purchase supplies for raised beds, irrigation, tools for maintaining the school garden, and/or a school garden curriculum for teachers.

Local Grant Resources

Local community or educational foundations

Nonprofits that support school gardens specifically, like us - Yolo Farm to Fork

California Grant Resources

California Native Plant Society

Western Growers

California Fertilizer Foundation

PG&E

National Grant Resources

Whole Foods - Whole Kids Foundation

Soil & Compost

Most school gardens will need regular soil amendments and compost to provide sufficient nutrients to grow healthy plants. Consider asking a local company that sells topsoil and other products for a donation or a discount.

When it comes to compost, you could ask a local waste and recycling company for a donation. As a Yolo County nonprofit, we provide local school gardens with free compost donated by Napa Recycling .

Wood Chips

Wood chips make excellent mulch, which helps garden soil retain moisture. Wood chips can also help suppress weeds and prevent excess mud, keeping students’ shoes cleaner when they visit the school garden.

One convenient source of free wood chips is Chip Drop . After you sign up with Chip Drop, a local arborist or tree service company will deliver a truckload of free wood chips from trees they have serviced.

Be sure to let the principal, staff, and groundskeepers know when the delivery will happen. Be aware that someone will need to give the truck access to the school garden site upon delivery and that it will be a very large load.

Seeds & Starts

Many local seed companies, nurseries, or stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s will donate seeds and veggie starts to school gardens. Yolo Farm to Fork receives many such donations to share with the Yolo County school gardens we support.

Volunteers

Are you in need of labor to construct your school garden? In addition to your school garden committee (including supportive parents, teachers, staff, students, and community members), local Rotary Clubs or Girl Scout or Boy Scout troops may be willing to volunteer to build raised beds, install irrigation, and provide necessary manual labor.

If you are a school in Yolo County, California looking for support, feel free to reach out to us. We can help you find school garden resources as you get started.

Choosing a Location for a School Garden

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 06:16:29 GMT

Starting a school garden? Here's how to find the best location for your school garden.

If you’re starting a school garden , one of the first things you need to decide is where to put it. Once you’ve gained administrative approval, the next step is often choosing a location for a school garden. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind when selecting a school garden site.

Water

Water is an essential factor in choosing a location for a school garden. Your site should be close to a water source since all edible crops need steady and reliable watering to grow well. Consider what kind of irrigation you will install before you start. Remember that school is out on weekends, holidays, and during winter and summer breaks. Drip irrigation on an automatic timer tends to be a solid option to keep your garden thriving throughout the school year.

Sunlight

Most vegetables, fruits, and flowers need plenty of sunlight. An ideal site will receive at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Observe your desired site several times throughout the day to see what kind of sun exposure it receives. Without enough sunlight, you will be limited to what crops you can grow. Keep in mind that the amount of sunlight will change with the seasons.

Competing Trees

Some shade around a school garden can be beneficial for teaching on sunny days. But mature trees can prevent your garden from getting the sunlight it needs to grow properly. They can also compete with your garden plants for precious resources like water and soil nutrients. You may need to consider tree removal if the best available space currently has numerous mature trees.

Soil

Many school gardens use raised beds for superior soil quality and drainage. Raised beds can also be used on sites that have contaminated soil and would not otherwise be able to grow edible plants. If you do not plan to use raised beds, be sure to have the soil tested before you plant for contamination and nutrient levels. Avoid placing a garden on a steep slide or a low spot where water collects during wet weather.

Accessibility

Gardens that are placed close to student classrooms tend to be used more often than sites located further away on school grounds. Gardens that are closer to the classrooms are more convenient and visible. Proximity to restrooms for handwashing is also handy. Also consider accessibility for students with disabilities. High raised beds surrounded by a flat, smooth surface ensure the garden will be accessible for students who are wheelchair users.

Security

Locating your school garden closer to the classrooms and/or the sight of neighbors makes it more secure from potential vandals or thieves. If you plan to add a shed, secure it with an appropriate lock at all times. Avoid keeping valuable equipment inside. If possible, see if any neighbors can capture the garden site with their security cameras.

If you have any questions about choosing a location for a school garden, feel free to reach out to Yolo County nonprofit Yolo Farm to Fork.

How to Start a School Garden

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 23:25:19 GMT

Interested in starting a school garden? You'll need administrative approval first. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to get it.

A school garden is an excellent asset to any school campus. A school garden is not just visually appealing, but it also provides valuable educational opportunities and fresh produce for the students and staff. If you’re interested in starting a school garden, one of the first steps is to seek administrative approval. Between the school site administration and the school district, it can be challenging at times to cut through the red tape. In this blog post, we’ll share tips on how to get permission to start a school garden.

Developing a Vision + Outline

Your first step should be to connect with any other parents, teachers, students, community members, or other individuals who support starting a school garden at your school. This group will constitute your support network. Together you can work to create a shared vision and make it a reality.

You’ll want to meet together to discuss your ideas and create an outline that you can present to administrators. Try to think through any potential obstacles you may face or objections that others may have to your proposed plan.

Here are a few basic questions you may want to cover in your outline:

Where will the school garden be located?
Where will you find funding and supplies to construct the school garden?
Who will construct the school garden?
What is your tentative plan of action and timeline?
How will you physically maintain the garden?
How will you financially sustain the garden?
How will the garden support the standards-based curriculum?

School Administrator Permission

Once you have a clear outline ready to present, contact your school administrator (such as a school principal) to schedule a meeting. When you meet, share your vision and outline and seek their approval to build the school garden. An enthusiastic and supportive principal is one of the strongest allies you can have on your path to starting a school garden.

School District Permission

At many sites, you may need to seek approval from administrators at the school district level in order to build a school garden. The department that supervises grounds keeping may need to be involved in approving your design. Here are some common examples of situations where you may need to work closely with the school district to build your garden:

The site you’ve selected for your garden does not currently have access to water.
The garden area is not ADA-compliant (meaning accessible to wheelchair users).
Large trees, existing landscaping, or hardscaping must be removed from the desired garden area before you can build a garden.

Key allies at the school district level may include the district superintendent and school board members. You may wish to present your outline at a school board meeting to connect with potential supporters. Many times these individuals love to be associated with innovative projects like school gardens, and their support can be invaluable.

Yolo Farm to Fork has a mission to create and sustain edible school gardens in Yolo County, California. If you live in Yolo County and are looking for support in starting a school garden, feel free to contact us. We’d love to help.

Welcome Back! Come Grow With Us!

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 22:37:42 GMT

School gardens are ready to welcome students back.

As Yolo County schools return to campus this month, school gardens supported by local nonprofit Yolo Farm to Fork (YF2F) stand ready and waiting to provide new, exciting learning experiences. Three new school gardens constructed by the nonprofit are set to debut this month: Lee Middle School and Gibson Elementary in Woodland and Westfield Village Elementary in West Sacramento.

This school year, the nonprofit will focus on getting students back in school gardens for hands-on science, nutrition, and agriculture lessons. Their new Farm to School grant from the California Department of Food & Agriculture will supply local school cafeterias with fresh produce grown by new small farmers, with a special focus on marginalized communities that have historically had little access to these marketplaces.

Over the summer, the nonprofit actively engaged students, both in Woodland Joint and Washington Unified School Districts. In West Sacramento, YF2F teamed up with the International Rescue Committee and Yolo Food Bank. Together, they led KidsZone summer camps in garden learning activities, from crafting nature bracelets to staging a Kids Farmer’s Market.

In Woodland, YF2F provided garden tours, earth science lessons, and freshly harvested produce for Migrant Education Summer Program students and their families. At the district’s Middle School Summer Career Program, they presented on food and agriculture industry careers and engaged students in a hands-on cooking class.

Since the pandemic hit, the nonprofit has barely missed a beat in pursuing their mission. YF2F staff and interns continued maintaining their “Growing Lunch” program at 13 Yolo County school gardens. Since March of 2020, YF2F has grown, harvested, and distributed 15,000 pounds (7 tons!) of fresh produce to children and families.

Thanks to the support of local businesses, the nonprofit pivoted their educational activities from in-person to remote. They created and distributed 600 bilingual Garden Discovery Kits for students to use at home during distance learning. Recent business sponsors include La Tourangelle Artisan Oil Company, Nugget Markets, Syngenta Seed Company, Raley’s Supermarkets, and Humboldt Redwood.

How can you help support this work? Here are three ideas:

Local businesses and individuals can take the YF2F “Grow the Next Generation Challenge” to sponsor a school garden, Garden Discovery Kits for students, or interns who work in the garden
Volunteer your time and expertise in a school garden
Donate materials to a school garden

For more information, visit yolofarmtofork.org or email info@yolofarmtofork.org.

Exciting NEW Farm-to-School Effort

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 23:22:20 GMT

New PEAS program creates partnership between local minority farmers and school districts

This past April, Yolo Farm to Fork secured a coveted Farm to School Incubator Grant from the California Department of Food & Agriculture. They were one of only 14 nonprofits statewide to be awarded. The $250,000 grant will be used to create a unique new program, Partners in Education for Agriculture in Schools (PEAS). PEAS seeks to empower new minority farmers to deliver healthy, fresh produce to Food Services for student meals in Woodland Joint and Washington Unified school districts.

Participating farmers will contract 6-12 months in advance for the delivery of specific amounts of freshly harvested produce for meals and snacks paid for by the National School Lunch Program. Farmers may secure additional income by teaching their “climate smart” farming strategies to students in the school site edible gardens.

PEAS will focus on supporting new, small farms owned and managed by women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, veterans, and immigrants. Dozens of such farms have been created throughout Yolo County in the past 5 years.

While many new small farms can’t yet afford to be certified organic, the program will have a special emphasis on “climate smart” agricultural practices. “’Climate Smart” essentially means sustainable and regenerative farming practices,” explains Yolo Farm to Fork Executive Director Anya Perron-Burdick. “’Climate Smart” agriculture helps mitigate climate change effects through practices like soil carbon sequestration and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

Finally, the program will offer support for school kitchen staffs transitioning from pre-packaged foods to culturally relevant meals, many cooked from scratch. Karri Pina, Director of Food Services for Washington Unified School District, observes, “The sudden changes in food delivery from meals served at school sites to “grab and go” pick-ups forced us to provide “heat and serve” meals not in line with our nutritional values. It also presented serious barriers to scratch cooking.” Pina hopes that by supplying the school cafeterias with fresh, local produce, PEAS will get students nutritionally back on track when they return to campus.

“PEAS is our way of combining community partners' efforts to address community needs and turn them into community resources - much as our Growing Lunch program has done in the past four years,” says Yolo Farm to Fork President Suzanne Falzone.

Share in the spirit of our holiday campaign!

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 15:42:37 GMT

You can help us raise $10,000 by December 31 to reach more kids in Yolo County in 2020!

We are Growing the Next Generation by supporting school gardens, organizing field trips to local farms, helping students harvest and deliver veggies to their school cafeteria for school meals, and providing Garden Learning Modules to preschools and elementary schools.

Experiences in the garden connect to every area of classroom curriculum - and students get to see how their food choices connect to their health, their community, and the environment. These experiences contribute to lifelong healthy habits, greater academic success, a deep love of the earth’s natural resources, a tremendous sense of pride, and students that stay and ultimately give back to their own communities.

As you consider year-end giving, we ask that you keep us in mind. If you’ve been considering a donation of any size, now is a fantastic time to give. Your tax-deductible year-end gift will ensure that we are able to continue to provide the life-changing programs and services that are truly Growing the Next Generation.

You can donate 3 ways:

(1) To use Paypal account or your credit card , please click on the Donate button. You are not required to have a Paypal account to donate; we simply use Paypal as our secure payment gateway for all credit card transactions. We do not access or retain financial account information.

(2) Text VEGGIES to 707070 to make your donation from your phone.

(3) To send a check, please mail it to:
Yolo Farm to Fork
1280 Santa Anita Court, Suite #100
Woodland, CA 95776

Yolo Farm to Fork is a recognized 501c3 nonprofit organization and contributions are tax-deductible. Our federal tax ID number is 68-0254919. The information you provide here is secure and will not be shared. If you have difficulty donating, please call (530) 302-5795.

Swirl & Slice – Tickets on sale now

Sat, 19 Oct 2019 22:48:30 GMT

Swirl & Slice – Tickets on sale now

A Downtown Woodland tradition will return next month, celebrating Dia de los Muertos and benefiting a local school garden program. For the fifth time, Christy Hayes of Mojo’s Lounge and Kitchen428 will partner with local nonprofit Yolo Farm to Fork to host “Swirl & Slice”, a Food, Wine, and Beer Walk. The event is scheduled for Thursday, November 7, 2019 from 5:30 PM-8:30 PM.

Event guests will check in at Heritage Plaza (2nd & Main Streets, Woodland) between 5:30 PM-6:30 PM. At registration, guests will receive a wine glass and a Downtown Dining Passport. The passport will serve as a guide to designated eateries and breweries where they can enjoy appetizers plus wine or beer.

A full list of participating locations will be announced soon. Currently confirmed Swirl & Slice stops include: Mojo’s Lounge, Woodland’s Edible Learning Garden, Las Brasas, Scribbler’s Coffeehouse, Father Paddy’s, Doggero’s, Local Inspirations, and Blue Note Brewing.

Swirl & Slice will benefit Yolo Farm to Fork’s Growing Lunch Program at Woodland’s Beamer Elementary. The program will enable Beamer students to grow and harvest fruits and vegetables in their school garden to be served in the cafeteria.

Promoting “farm-to-fork” values comes naturally to event organizer Christy Hayes. Her restaurant, Kitchen428, crafts meals around “seasonal, locally sourced” ingredients. In 2012, Hayes organized the first Swirl & Slice event in partnership with the Historic Woodland Downtown Business Association to promote its burgeoning food scene. Since then, the popular Swirl & Slice concept has been repeated multiple times with rotating themes.

This year’s theme of Dia de los Muertos honors the Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1-2. Based on ancient Aztec traditions, Day of the Dead is a time for remembering loved ones who have passed away. Traditional elements of the holiday will be woven into the event, including sugar skull artwork provided by Beamer Elementary students.

Event sponsors include Syngenta, Mojo’s Lounge, and Woodland’s Dinner on Main Street. Woodland’s Dinner on Main Executive Director Linda Henigan calls Yolo Farm to Fork “one of their favorite organizations.” She says both organizations are committed to “educating young people about where their food comes from and the importance of filling bellies with nutritious food. A garden in every school is the perfect mission.”

Pre-sale tickets are available now for $25 (or $30 day of the event). Tickets may be purchased at Mojo’s Lounge (428 1st St, Woodland, cash or check) or online at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4408421

Yolo Farm to Fork grant winners!

Sat, 19 Oct 2019 18:33:21 GMT

Yolo Farm to Fork grant winners!

We are pleased to announce that we are awarding $7,500 in grants to Yolo County schools that will participate in our “Dig in Yolo” edible garden program. Because we had so many schools apply, we increased our total grant award amount so we could benefit even more kids.

Congratulations to the winners!

Birch Lane Elementary
Cesar Chavez Elementary
Davis Waldorf
Delta Elementary Charter
Dingle Elementary
Douglass Middle School
Esparto High School
Esparto Middle School
Holy Rosary Catholic School
Martin Luther King High School
Marguerite Montgomery Elementary
Lee Middle School
Lighthouse Charter
North Davis Elementary
Patwin Elementary
Plainfield Elementary
R.W. Emerson Junior High School
River City High School
Science and Technology Academy
Southport Elementary
Woodland High School
Zamora Elementary

Yolo Farm to Fork President Suzanne Falzone hopes the grants will allow even more children to experience the benefits of school garden programs. “We are committed to starting and sustaining edible school gardens that connect children and families to the values and benefits of farm-to-table food systems. In the garden, kids learn lifelong food-growing skills that connect with every area of their classroom curriculum, AND they love eating their harvests.”

Yolo Farm to Fork supports school gardens, provides field trips to local farms, and helps students harvest and deliver veggies to their school cafeteria for school meals – especially in schools serving low-income populations that are fighting childhood obesity. More than 10,000 kids benefit from edible school gardens, farm trips, grant funds, supplies, and other support.

Art Farm Gala – Tickets on sale now

Sat, 19 Oct 2019 18:32:01 GMT

Art Farm Gala – Tickets on sale now

Art Farm Gala

Friday, November 1 from 6:00-9:00 pm

Hotel Woodland, 436 Main Street, Woodland

Join us for YoloArts 12th annual fundraiser supporting the Art & Ag Project!

Art Farm is your chance to sample the best of Yolo County food, wine, beer, and ART! Peruse the juried selections in the silent auction, harvest a work of art, or simply enjoy the tasty treats, delicious drinks and live music by Mike Blanchard and the Californios!

Proceeds from this event fund the YoloArts Art & Ag Project, Yolo Land Trust, and Yolo Farm to Fork.

YoloArts is a non-profit organization, and its mission is to cultivate and advocate support for all the arts, to participate in advancement of arts education in our schools and community, and to foster communication among artists, business, education, government, and the residents of Yolo County. www.yoloarts.org

Tickets are available here: https://bit.ly/2MfMSYb

Yolo Farm to Fork to Award up to $5,000 in Garden Grants

Thu, 05 Sep 2019 22:48:31 GMT

Yolo Farm to Fork to Award up to $5,000 in Garden Grants

Yolo Farm to Fork will award up to $5,000 in grants to Yolo County schools (up to $500 per school) that apply and are selected to participate in the “Dig In Yolo” edible school garden program. Funding for the grants was raised at the nonprofit’s Spring Gala event at Park Winters earlier this year.

The grants are available to any public or private school in Yolo County that wants to create or sustain an edible school garden. To apply, download the application (pdf) at https://bit.ly/2lyuQ7u and submit it no later than September 30. Successful applicants will be notified by the end of October.

Andrew Tait, a teacher at West Sacramento’s River City High School, is excited that the grants will be available again this year. “Our program all began with this grant!” Thanks to the two previous Yolo Farm to Fork grants the school was awarded, students have created and sustained a school garden program, a farm-to-fork club, and an on-campus CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) service. “I highly recommend applying for this grant for anyone in Yolo County with an interest in school gardens.”

In addition to offering garden grants and participating in farm-to-fork events in September, the nonprofit will also celebrate Farm to School Month in October, and on November 7th, Mojo’s Lounge and Kitchen428 is partnering with Yolo Farm to Fork to host the fall event, Swirl & Slice: Food, Beer and Wine Walk in Downtown Woodland. Proceeds will benefit Yolo Farm to Fork’s programs.

Yolo Farm to Fork recently released a new video at https://bit.ly/2NHMu4L.

Have You Seen Our New Video?

Sun, 01 Sep 2019 22:48:32 GMT

Have You Seen Our New Video?

by Beth Harrison | Sep 1, 2019 | Agriculture, Community, Dig In Yolo, Edible Gardens, Education

Yolo Farm to Fork has released a new video highlighting our work in the Yolo County community.

This video shows how we are planting the seeds of healthy living. We are cultivating children’s taste for fresh healthy produce and engaging them in learning experiences that edible school gardens and farm visits offer, especially for schools serving low-income populations that are fighting childhood obesity. We currently reach more than 10,000 kids in 62 Yolo County schools with our edible school gardens, farm trips, grants, supplies, and other support.

Experiences in the garden connect to every area of their classroom curriculum – reading, writing, problem-solving, science and math. They get to see how their food choices connect to their health, their community, and their environment. At the heart of it all is one goal: To change the way kids see and enjoy healthy food!

Click here to watch our new video and share it with your friends, family, and network!

Garden Grub Club Gets High School Students Growing

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 22:48:33 GMT

Garden Grub Club Gets High School Students Growing

Empower Yolo and Yolo Farm to Fork have teamed up to create garden-learning clubs at two Woodland High Schools. As of 2018, students at Woodland and Pioneer High Schools can join the Garden Grub Club, run through the After-School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (ASSETs) program. The clubs meet twice a week after school, with an additional lunch drop-in available. Both school clubs offer unique educational opportunities related to gardening, agriculture, and the farm-to-fork process.

At Pioneer High School, the Garden Grub Club has visited nearby Woodland Community College to study garden design and plant propagation. The college greenhouse has even loaned the club space to grow plant starts for the high school’s garden. Club Facilitator Heather Campbell says the students enjoy doing hands-on activities where they see a physical result at their school. One student experiment involved constructing potato towers to find out which type of potato and tower grew best. Campbell says the activity was eye-opening to many club members; “Some students didn’t even know there were multiple kinds of potatoes before that

experiment!”

At Woodland High School, the Garden Grub Club has constructed their own garden beds and reached out to help younger students. For facilitator Mason Shelnutt, building community is an important goal for the club. The club has visited Whitehead and Beamer Elementary Schools to weed and repair garden beds and fix broken irrigation. Shelnutt says the club offers students a chance to experience a “horizontal learning process” with their peers instead of the more traditional “top-down, lecture-style” learning.

The Woodland High School club has also visited Full Belly Farm to see how food is cultivated and toured the kitchen at farm-to-fork restaurant Preserve in Winters. Shelnutt says the restaurant field trip, which included personal sourdough pizzas for the students, was a special experience. “For many students, this was the first nice restaurant they had visited. It allowed them to see the culinary side of the farm-to-fork process.”

At both schools, students have enthusiastically embraced the Garden Grub Clubs. Haleigh Smith, a 17-year-old junior at Woodland High School, says the club has given her practical knowledge, like how crops interact with the soil. She also loves participating in projects that

beautify her school. “The club is inspiring. It makes you want to go out and plant or restore something!”

For her classmate José Delgado, the club has offered a way to connect with family. “I wanted to join because I was interested in the agriculture aspect. My dad farms land in Mexico, and it has helped me relate with my dad more.” José says the club has also broadened his perspective on where food comes from. “Before the garden club, I didn’t recognize how important agriculture was and how much of an impact it has on people’s health. It’s really made me conscious of that.”

Heather Campbell says facilitating the club at Pioneer High School has been rewarding. “Giving the students an opportunity to connect with nature is incredibly important. It also offers a sense of agency to students as they help design aspects of the garden, at an age when you don’t always feel in control. It’s a revelatory experience for them to see things grow and have a hand in that process.”

Funded by the California Department of Education, the ASSETs program provides qualifying students with “a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment to develop and grow their potential”, with a strong focus on “development of life and leadership skills”, according to the Empower Yolo website.

4th Annual Spring Gala at Park Winters

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 23:48:34 GMT

4th Annual Spring Gala at Park Winters

On March 17, private nonprofit Yolo Farm to Fork will host their 4th Annual Spring Gala at the Inn at Park Winters. From local wine and appetizers to an elegant 5-course dinner, the Gala will celebrate Yolo County’s agricultural bounty. Event proceeds will support Yolo Farm to Fork’s educational programs throughout the region.

For the past four years, the Spring Gala at Park Winters has provided a sophisticated farm-to-fork experience for a good cause and has been described as “Yolo County’s answer to the Tower Bridge Dinner”. Gala guests can take in sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountain Range, explore the charming grounds and gardens, and enjoy the Inn’s “simple country luxury” ambience.

Built in 1865, the Inn is a gorgeously restored Victorian farmhouse with a gourmet kitchen that regularly features the finest ingredients Yolo County agriculture has to offer.

Thanks to an executive chef who worked at Michelin three-starred restaurant Alinea in Chicago, the Inn at Park Winters has become one of the region’s most highly regarded foodie destinations. This year’s Gala menu will feature organic grass-fed short ribs from Woodland’s Panorama Meats and red rice from Davis’ Dewit Rice Farms. The menu will also feature produce harvested from the Inn’s on-site organic farm. Sudwerk Brewing Company One will supply Gunrock lager, a light-bodied beer brewed at UC Davis using locally grown rice. Event sponsors include Raley’s, AgSeed Unlimited, Pacific Coast Producers, InHarvest, Agriform, Wilbur-Ellis, River City Bank, Wilkinson International, Panorama Grass-fed Meats, Davis Food Co-op, and Ferro Construction.

The Inn provided the following statement: “Park Winters is proud to have hosted the Yolo Farm to Fork Spring Gala for 4 years and counting! We share a passion for community, supporting farmers, and promoting a healthful and happy life. Their cause is crucial to our community and we are honored to work with them.”

Yolo Farm to Fork supports garden-centered and farm-based education for students. The organization is dedicated to bringing locally grown farm-fresh food to school meals by sustaining edible gardens. Last year, the 43 gardens they support harvested a total of 1100 pounds of produce which was served in school cafeterias.

In 2018, the nonprofit funded 17 garden grants, supported two high school garden clubs, and enrolled 24 Head Start preschool classrooms in garden- and nutrition-based learning activities. They also helped over 800 students participate in Farm Visit field trips and employed college students in paid garden internships.

Board President Suzanne Falzone hopes the Spring Gala’s proceeds will enable the nonprofit to reach even more Yolo County students. “Edible gardens are extremely cost-effective, hands-on learning environments where students experience the real world of biology, physics, math and literacy and link them to their classroom learning, not to mention the links to better nutrition, recycling, sustainable growing practices, and the life-long satisfaction that comes from eating food fresh from one’s own garden.”

Kids Farmers for a Day

Tue, 20 Nov 2018 23:48:36 GMT

Kids Farmers for a Day

Since September, around 800 Yolo County students have been swapping the classroom for a new setting: a local organic farm. Students from Woodland, Esparto, Davis, and West Sacramento are participating in this year’s farm visits, due to a grant program called “Go Visit a Farm!” run by local nonprofit Yolo Farm to Fork and sponsored by Raley’s.

Students visit either Full Belly Farm in Guinda, a 400-acre diversified organic farm; or Fiery Ginger Farm, a one-acre organic urban farm in West Sacramento.

The two farms may differ in size, but each field trip combines similar elements. Students take part in farm exploration, interactive discussion, and hands-on farm activities that incorporate school curriculum topics and make farm-to-table connections.

Every student participates in a harvest activity and are encouraged to sample the produce they harvest. Other learning activities might focus on identifying parts of a flower, growing vegetables at home, pruning and caring for a fruit tree, keeping livestock, vermicomposting with worms, or recognizing beneficial insects and birds.

Hope Sippola of Fiery Ginger Farm says her goal is to show visiting students “what it is like to be a farmer for a day”. This includes planting, harvesting, and packing vegetables, tasting greens, and learning about the on-site egg-laying chickens.

At Full Belly Farm, Director of Outreach and Education Haley Friel says two highlights of their farm visits are when students tend the newborn piglets and gather freshly laid chicken eggs.

“Some students bravely reach under the chickens to grab the eggs,” she says. “Others have even seen eggs being laid right before their eyes.”

Friel says by visiting a working farm, the students learn “where their food really comes from and all the effort and energy that goes into bringing it to them”.

According to Friel, young people are often surprisingly detached from our food system.

“Even students that live in more rural areas are often disconnected from the realities of our food system and have no context or connection to it,” states Friel.

She credits the farm visits for providing “engaging, exciting experiences” that help students connect to the food they eat and spark “curiosity and interest in the agriculture they depend on”.

Fostering this connection is a prime reason Yolo Farm to Fork created the “Go Visit A Farm!” program six years ago.

President Suzanne Falzone explains, “We’ve been doing farm visits from our very beginnings in 2012. We want kids to experience where food originates and how it grows. We also want to acquaint them with our county’s rich ag heritage.”

With about 800 students participating each year, the program has made close to 5,000 farm visits possible since its inception.

One teacher who has benefited from the “Go Visit a Farm!” program is Vicki Fu. As a fourth-grade teacher at Woodland’s Dingle Elementary, Fu’s classes have participated in the farm visits for the past three years in a row.

Since the fourth grade curriculum specifically centers around California, she feels that visiting a farm helps her students better understand the critical role agriculture plays in the state’s economy. She adds, “Many of our students have parents and family members in the agriculture industry.”

Funding for the farm visit grants comes from Raley’s. Some of the farm visits conclude with a trip to a nearby Raley’s grocery store. There, students see how food harvested at nearby farms can be purchased and taken home by customers, completing the farm-to-fork cycle.

Celebrate Dia de los Muertos in Downtown Woodland

Fri, 19 Oct 2018 22:48:40 GMT

Celebrate Dia de los Muertos in Downtown Woodland

Take a walk through Downtown Woodland and support a good cause at the same time. Christy Hayes of Mojo’s Lounge and Kitchen428 is partnering with nonprofit Yolo Farm to Fork to host the upcoming Swirl & Slice: Dia de los Muertos Food, Wine, and Beer Walk in Downtown Woodland on Thursday, November 1, 2018.

Guests will start the evening by checking in at Heritage Plaza (2nd & Main Streets, Woodland) from 5:30pm-6:30pm to register, buy day of tickets (if still available), and collect a wine glass and a Downtown Dining Passport. The passport will guide guests to designated eateries and breweries where they can enjoy wine, beer, and appetizer samples.

Swirl & Slice participants include: Uvaggio’s Wine Bar, Blue Note Brewing Company, Father Paddy’s Pub, Las Brasas Tacos & Salsas, Mojo’s Lounge and Kitchen 428, House of Shah, The Gifted Penguin with Simas Wine & Savory Cafe, A Haven Boutique, Avila Winters, Serendipity Boutique, The Parlor Salon & Spa, and The Nest.

The event will benefit Yolo Farm to Fork’s Growing Lunch Program at Whitehead Elementary in Woodland. Through the Growing Lunch Program, Whitehead students will grow, harvest, and deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to their school cafeteria to be served in their lunch program.

Promoting “farm-to-fork” values comes naturally to event organizer Christy Hayes, whose restaurant Kitchen 428 crafts meals around “seasonal, locally sourced” ingredients. In 2012, Hayes organized the first Slice & Swirl event in partnership with the Historic Woodland Downtown Business Association, “to help promote its burgeoning food scene”. Since then, the popular Swirl & Slice concept has been repeated multiple times with rotating themes.

The upcoming theme of Dia de los Muertos was chosen to honor the Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. Based on ancient Aztec traditions, Day of the Dead allows families to remember friends and relatives who have died. Traditional elements of the holiday will be woven into the event, including sugar skill artwork provided by Whitehead Elementary students.

Event sponsors include the DeMassi Real Estate Group, CL Smith Trucking, Design Marketing Inc., Mojo’s Lounge, and Woodland’s Dinner on Main. Linda Henigan, Executive Director of Woodland’s Dinner on Main, praises Yolo Farm to Fork as “one of their favorite organizations”. She says the nonprofit aligns closely with their goal of “helping to educate young people about where their food comes from and the importance of filling bellies with nutritious food. A garden in every school is the perfect mission.”

West Sac Schools Welcome New Growing Lunch Coordinator

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 22:48:38 GMT

West Sac Schools Welcome New Growing Lunch Coordinator

What do you do after retiring at the height of your career? For West Sacramento resident Paula Tapia, the answer is: keep going! After 14 years as Cook Manager at Westmore Oaks Elementary, Paula officially retired in June. Just prior to retiring, she was named 2018 Classified Employee of the Year by Washington Unified School District (WUSD) and received an Excellence in Education award from the Yolo County School Boards Association. Now Paula will step into a new role in four WUSD schools as Coordinator for Yolo Farm to Fork’s Growing Lunch Program.

The new role seems a natural fit for Paula, who as Cook Manager was well-known for her enthusiastic approach to improving student nutrition. She regularly surveyed students in the cafeteria on which kinds of new foods they might want to try. Her biggest challenge over the years? Coaxing students to up their veggie intake. According to Paula, “I’d been trying for years to push the kids to eat more vegetables.” A few years ago, she experienced a watershed moment while volunteering with the school’s Garden Club when she saw a way to bridge the gap between the garden and cafeteria.

“It seemed so logical to take [school garden produce] into the cafeteria,” Paula recalls. She began offering students samples of the garden produce in the cafeteria - as she puts it, “Costco-style, with tongs!” Paula notes, “That’s when I noticed a change. When [students] know it’s from the garden, they’re more likely to try it. All they [have] to do is get a taste for it.” She observed the new approach working as students tried and liked a surprising array of new vegetables including kale chips, fava beans, and unusual varieties of romaine lettuce.

In her new position as Growing Lunch Coordinator, Paula intends to spread the same success she witnessed at Westmore Oaks to three additional WUSD schools: Elkhorn Village, Stonegate, and Westfield. Since the program’s launch in fall of 2016 by local nonprofit Yolo Farm to Fork (YF2F), it has yielded “over 3,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables in school meals”, according to the YF2F website. The program aims to “[empower] K-6 students to learn how to grow, harvest and eat healthy, fresh produce at school, while sustaining edible gardens”.

To assist the Growing Lunch program’s expansion in West Sacramento schools this year, Paula plans to enlist help from numerous partners. “We have the best community support,” she beams, listing Fiery Ginger Urban farm, the City of West Sacramento’s Kidzone program, the school district, and Raley’s as key partners.

Fiery Ginger Farm provides veggie starts and seeds to the school garden sites. Kidzone participants can choose to help in the school gardens on a regular basis this year. As a long-time supporter of Paula’s efforts, WUSD Director of Food Services Karri Pina continues to support the Growing Lunch program as it expands within the district.

Funding for this year’s Growing Lunch program comes from an Extra Credit Grant generously provided by Raley’s. Community Coordinator Megan Riggs commented, “Raley’s is committed to infusing life with health and happiness. Our Extra Credit program invests in our future through food literacy and sustainability, while creating the next generation of healthy eaters. The Growing Lunch program does just that. Empowering children not only to try new foods, but grow them too and instilling the importance of good nutrition are the perfect ingredients to creating the next generation of healthy eaters.”

Since June, Paula has been enjoying playing more golf and sleeping in past the 3:30am wake-up time required by her Cook Manager days. But she doubts she will be finding herself bored any time soon. cafeteria.

New Partnership brings Science Standards to School Gardens

Wed, 15 Aug 2018 22:48:39 GMT

New Partnership brings Science Standards to School Gardens

Last year, when Megan Grose’s students at Whitehead Elementary studied a Language Arts unit about corn, they did more than read about it. Her 5th-graders planted and grew corn in the school garden. On another occasion, Grose taught her class engineering skills in the school garden by assigning students to design six garden beds. Students worked in groups to measure, find area and volume, and build models.

This year, thanks to a new partnership, Grose’s students will also be practicing real science in the school garden. The data they collect about birds and pollinators will help scientists work on a variety of urgent questions about our changing environment. With funding from the California Department of Education, the Yolo County Office of Education (YCOE) is partnering with Woodland Joint Unified School District (WJUSD), UC Davis’ Center for Community and Citizen Science (The Center), and local nonprofit Yolo Farm to Fork (YF2F). Together, they have created a professional development program for WJUSD teachers to incorporate Next Generation Science Standards into lesson plans set in the school garden.

The partnership launched in early August with a pilot group of 25 individuals who attended a Science in the Garden Workshop at Whitehead Elementary. The pilot group included WJUSD elementary teachers, after-school tutors, and volunteer garden coordinators. The workshop allowed the group to plan science lessons with fellow educators at their grade level. Additional opportunities will occur throughout the school year to plan together, pilot lessons, and gain training on resources available to support science and environmental literacy.

One key contributor to the new partnership is UC Davis’ Center for Community and Citizen Science. A major focus of The Center’s work is to facilitate and do research on “Youth-focused Citizen and Community Science.” Young people contribute to authentic science research through data collection,

and by interpreting and sharing their findings. “Through these activities, they have the chance to learn important skills and see themselves as people who can do real science,” says Associate Professor Heidi Ballard, the Center’s founder and faculty director. “In some cases they can use what they’ve learned to take action in their communities. Their work in the gardens can help inform decisions about their school campus, while also contributing to nationwide scientific research about biodiversity and global environmental change,” says Erin Bird, a PhD candidate and environmental educator who co-led the workshop with Dr. Ballard.

School gardens provide a perfect place for students to practice data collection and analysis, according to Suzanne Falzone, Board President of Yolo Farm to Fork. The nonprofit currently supports 54 school gardens throughout Yolo County, like the one at Whitehead Elementary where Megan Grose’s class grew their own corn. Falzone says YF2F’s role in the partnership is “twofold”, helping to plan “the content and timing of the teacher training”, and “ensuring the selected gardens are “ready” as science labs for teachers to use in science instruction.”

As one of the teachers planning to participate in the partnership, Megan Grose sees a myriad of possibilities to demonstrate science standards in the school garden. “There are entomology, geology, and life science implications through the inclusion of not only flowers, but native plants”, she notes. If the partnership succeeds, Falzone hopes it will continue to grow, both in WJUSD and in other Yolo County school districts.

Celebrate Summer Sunflowers Swirl & Slice

Tue, 31 Jul 2018 07:00:00 GMT

Celebrate Summer Sunflowers Swirl & Slice

Take a walk through Downtown Woodland to support a good cause. Christy Hayes of Mojo’s Lounge and Kitchen428, is partnering with Yolo Farm to Fork to host the upcoming Swirl & Slice: Summer Sunflowers Food, Wine, and Beer Walk on Thursday, July 12th, 6:00-9:00. Event sponsors include The DeMasi Group Real Estate Specialist, Mojo’s Lounge, InterWest Insurance, and Monsanto’s Seminis Vegetable Seeds.

Tour Downtown Woodland restaurants and sample appetizers, wine, and beer. Featured restaurants include Father Paddy’s featuring Matchbook Wine, Las Brasas, Uvaggio, Guinevere’s Cafe and Bistro featuring Alma de la Vina wine, House of Shah featuring Figueroa Brewing, El Charro, Blue Note Brewery, Chickpeas, Mojo’s Lounge, Bella Bean Coffee with Zest West Pastry, Kevin Cowan Investments with Savory Cafe, A Well Stocked Home serving Capay Valley Ranch Olive Oil, and Local Inspirations with select Pure Honey samples.

Tickets are $25 and available at BrownPaperTickets.com or at Mojo’s Lounge, 428 1st St, Woodland, or $30 day of the event. Each ticket comes with a wine glass and a Downtown Dining Passport. Check in at Heritage Plaza (2nd & Main Streets, Woodland) 6:00pm-7:00pm to register, buy day of tickets and collect your glass and passport.

The dinner will benefit Yolo Farm to Fork’s Dig In Yolo edible school garden program at Woodland Prairie Elementary. Through the Dig In Yolo program, Woodland Prairie students and teachers with guidance from their Volunteer Garden Coordinator, Susan Alves, will design and build their first edible school garden. In addition to growing fresh fruits and vegetables on campus, Woodland Prairie students and teachers with use the garden to get outside the classroom and teach engaging hands-on lessons in Science, Language Arts, Math, and History.

Yolo Farm to Fork, a private nonprofit organization, supports garden-centered and farm-based education for students. Yolo Farm to Fork programs bring farm-fresh food to school meals, while providing the real-life resources for kids to improve nutrition habits, fight obesity and integrate garden learning with classroom instruction while sustaining edible school gardens.

Volunteers Create New School Garden at Elkhorn

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 18:31:10 GMT

Volunteers Create New School Garden at Elkhorn

On a beautiful spring morning of Saturday, May 19th, volunteers gathered to construct a new school garden at Elkhorn Village Elementary School. These volunteers represented Elkhorn staff and students, two local nonprofits (Rotary Club of West Sacramento Centennial and Yolo Farm to Fork), and farmer Shan Zurilgen of nearby Fiery Ginger Urban Farm. The construction of a permanent garden space represents over a year and a half of effort and planning.

The Elkhorn school garden project began in October 2016, when Yolo Farm to Fork gave a presentation at an Elkhorn Parent Teacher Student Association meeting. Inspired by the idea of a garden at the school, third-grade Elkhorn teacher Christie Chapman volunteered to oversee a school garden project with her Leadership elective class. Initially, vegetables were grown in temporary containers, with the hope of creating a permanent space in the future.

The next phase occurred in April 2018, when Yolo Farm to Fork (YF2F) received grants from Raley’s Markets and PG&E to purchase materials for the raised garden beds at Elkhorn. YF2F then reached out to West Sac Centennial Rotary Club, who agreed to perform the installation of the raised beds. “We’ve been supporting the local [school] gardens for years,” says President Tom Engle, who attended the work day. Previously, the club has built raised beds for the Bryte CAFFE (Culinary Arts Farm to Fork Education) campus and planted fruit trees at River City Highschool.

On May 19 th , about 10 volunteers completed five raised beds at Elkhorn, with plans to add five additional raised beds as funds become available. The new school garden occupies a formerly vacant space on the northeast side of campus.

As a teacher, Chapman hopes that the garden will encourage healthy eating habits, both in the cafeteria and at home. “I think that the school garden is going to help students be more interested in and excited about eating vegetables.” Elkhorn participates in YF2F’s Growing Lunch Program, which allows students to grow and harvest vegetables to be served in the school cafeteria.

Work day volunteer and 7 th -grade student Gabriel Duran became involved with the garden through Chapman’s Leadership class. “We’ve been planning this [garden] for a while now…. so I decided to come and help out.” Gabriel is most excited about “being able to show off the garden” to the younger students. “I can’t wait to see their faces on Monday when they see this!”

Nugget Markets and Raley’s partner for Garden Grants

Thu, 19 Apr 2018 18:38:52 GMT

Nugget Markets and Raley’s partner for Garden Grants

Kids in public and private schools in Yolo County will have opportunities to sustain an edible garden or visit a farm through Yolo Farm to Fork. Thanks to many generous donations and a dollar for dollar match from Nugget Markets during it’s March 19 Spring Gala at the Inn at Park Winters, the private nonprofit will help kids learn about growing and eating healthy food.

Any public or private school in Yolo County that wants to sustain an edible garden is eligible to apply for a Yolo Farm to Fork Dig In Yolo Garden Grant, with an award up to $500 to start or sustain an edible learning garden. The garden grant application simple to complete and will be available beginning April 9 on Yolo Farm to Fork’s website: www.yolofarmtofork.org. Applications are due April 30 and successful applicants will be notified by the end of May for use in school gardens during the 2018-19 school year.

Fall is a great time to plant edible gardens. Even better, students returning to school in August and September will have lots of yummy melons, tomatoes and peppers to harvest and eat. “We are committed to starting and sustaining edible school gardens that connect children and families to the values and benefits of farm-to-table food systems,” says Suzanne Falzone, President of the organization, “in the garden kids learn lifelong food-growing skills that connect with every area of their classroom curriculum, AND they love eating their harvests.”

A second round of funding will support fall farm visits for 4th 5th and 6th graders in Yolo County schools. Through a grant from Raley’s, teachers in public or private schools can apply to Yolo Farm to Fork’s Go Visit a Farm! program to take their students on field trips to working farms in the Fall of 2018, plus a visit to a Raley’s “back room” to see how incoming farm products are handled so their nutrients are maximized.

Regional organic farms are selected carefully to accommodate all learning styles and provide hands-on farm activities for visiting students. Applications for Go Visit a Farm! field trips will be available on the Yolo Farm to Fork website beginning May 1, with a May 31 deadline for applications. During the summer Yolo Farm to Fork will coordinate farms, dates, trips and transportation so teachers will know on their first day back from summer when their class field trips will occur.

Umpqua Bank partners to Grow Healthy Lunch for Kids

Tue, 06 Feb 2018 19:58:02 GMT

Umpqua Bank partners to Grow Healthy Lunch for Kids

Julie Farnham, Woodland Branch Manager (left), with Anya Perron-Burdick, YF2F Program Manager.

Umpqua Bank is supporting Yolo Farm to Fork’s Growing Lunch program at two Woodland elementary schools: Dingle and Maxwell. The grant for $5,000 will help pay the expenses of the garden-to-cafeteria program – Growing Lunch. Through Growing Lunch Yolo Farm to Fork sustains edible gardens in local schools where students to plant, grow, harvest, weigh, wash and deliver garden-grown produce to their cafeterias for service in school meals. From the fall of 2016, students have harvested, washed, and served over 3,000 pounds of fresh garden vegetables in their school’s meals program. “We’re very grateful for Umpqua’s support,” stated Perron-Burdick, “Edible school gardens are one of the best ways to improve kids’ nutrition while they learn the basics of growing food and connect that knowledge to their classroom curriculum.”

To learn more about Yolo Farm to Fork’s Growing Lunch program in your community, visit www.yolofarmtofork.org/growing-lunch

Why Yolo Farm to Fork is a Trustworthy Nonprofit

Mon, 11 Dec 2017 20:00:14 GMT

GuideStar Platinum: Why Yolo Farm to Fork is a Trustworthy Nonprofit

Our new Platinum designation means you can rest even easier knowing we are a trustworthy nonprofit making a real difference.

GuideStar USA is the world’s largest information service focusing on nonprofit organizations. GuideStar strives to strengthen the nonprofit sector by providing better data for better decision-making that ultimately helps to create a better world. It provides current, authoritative data, including tax information that allows for transparency.

How does GuideStar Platinum status make Yolo Farm to Fork a trustworthy nonprofit?

Platinum is the highest level of recognition achievable through GuideStar. Because we have consistently shared the progress, results and reporting systems for our programs with GuideStar, Yolo Farm to Fork was awarded with the Platinum Seal of Transparency. Having access to this data gives you the assurance you need to know that we are serious about real change, and that we are being good stewards.

Financial Sustainability and Stewardship Promise

We use a diversified fundraising model that provides the resources and stability to sustain our edible school gardens into the future. Wer receive no government funding, but instead collaborate and partner with local agriculture businesses, restaurants, school districts, parent-teacher associations, charitable foundations, and nonprofits to financially support our program and raise awareness about the value of garden-centered and farm-based education.

Financial accountability and good stewardship are the foundation of trust. You deserve to know how your investment is used, and we’re committed to being transparent about what we do and how we do it. We want you to have the utmost confidence that your gifts are bringing a positive impact on the lives of children, their health and education.

Kings First 2017-18 Season Spotlight Night

Fri, 10 Nov 2017 20:02:51 GMT

Kings First 2017-18 Season Spotlight Night

On Monday, November 20, the Sacramento Kings Foundation will host the first “Spotlight Night” of the 2017-18 season at Golden 1 Center to support regional non-profits using basketball as an agent of change in the community. As the team takes on the Denver Nuggets, the Kings Foundation will highlight the work of Yolo Farm to Fork – a nonprofit that educates students on the importance of locally grown fresh food and reducing waste through school gardens.

“Sustainability is one of our core values – in the region and at the Kings – and we’re passionate about how we can continue to reduce our impact on the planet,” said Kings President of Business Operations John Rinehart. “Through our Spotlight Nights, we’re able to support the work of incredible non-profits by sharing our stage with over 17,000 fans to raise awareness.”

During the annual Spotlight Nights, a local nonprofit will “takeover” the arena and engage Kings fans through in-arena programming, Kings social media accounts, concourse activations, the 50/50 raffle and more. The Spotlight on Sustainability Night will be the first in this season’s three-part series with future game nights that will focus on health and education.

At Monday’s Spotlight on Sustainability Night, Yolo Farm to Fork will take over the arena, sharing their message through in-game activations, an informational table at Plaza Level section 111, and with special farm boxes in the suites and lofts in the arena. Through the night, they’ll be able to educate fans on best practices for growing in-season produce, composting techniques and incorporating farm-fresh food into school lunches – all sustainability practices that residents throughout Sacramento can take on and reduce their impact on the environment.

Throughout the evening, the Kings will use special in-game entertainment like the return of the “Veggie Race,” videos featuring farm-to-fork trivia and other programming to encourage fans to incorporate sustainable practices into their everyday lives, as well as share some of the team’s innovative practices that make Golden 1 Center the most environmentally friendly arena in the world.

The Sacramento Kings have set the bar for sports teams – becoming a model of sustainability by becoming the first arena to be awarded LEED platinum, and sourcing 90% of Golden 1 Center’s food within 150 miles of the arena to create the most innovative food program in sports.

Building off of these green practices, the Sacramento Kings created the Second That program aimed at mitigating food waste by donating unserved arena cuisine to families in need throughout the Sacramento region. As a result of these innovations and more, the Sacramento Kings and Golden 1 Center were awarded with the Sport for Climate Action Award by Beyond Sport, chosen as an example that improves the urban fabric by Fast Company, selected as an Environmental Innovator of the Year by the Green Sports Alliance and earned Sustainable Business of the Year for Energy Conservation by the Sacramento Business Environmental Resource Center.

For more information, please visit Kings.com/Community.

Sacramento Kings Selects Yolo Farm to Fork

Sat, 04 Nov 2017 19:11:08 GMT

Sacramento Kings Selects Yolo Farm to Fork

Yolo Farm to Fork, a private nonprofit sustaining edible school gardens in Yolo County schools, will be in the spotlight at Golden 1 Area on Monday, November 20. Selected by the Sacramento Kings’ organization as a featured nonprofit when the Kings play the Nuggets, the spotlight will focus on the organization’s activities for “planting the seeds of healthy living” to encourage kids to grow and eat more fresh, healthy, food. Dozens of student gardeners and their families will get free tickets to the game, and provide both information and entertainment related to their edible garden activities.

Three programs operated by Yolo Farm to Fork will be featured:

Dig In Yolo provides basic support for public and private school edible gardens from preschool through grade 6, activating kids to eat what they grow, learn where good food comes from, and develop a taste for local fruits and vegetables, while sustaining the earth that produces them. For 36 local schools, DIY provides seeds and plants, organic mulch, weed control bark, volunteers, garden learning activities and grant opportunities.

Growing Lunch, in now in 7 schools Woodland and West Sacramento, empowers student gardeners to harvest food they grow in in their school gardens and deliver it to the school cafeterias for school meals. Through their after-school programs K-6 students learn how to grow, harvest, wash, and eat healthful, fresh produce at school, while sustaining the edible gardens at their school sites. Food Service cafeteria staff receive, prepare, and serve the fresh garden produce in school meals.

‘100 Men Who Give a Damn’ host fundraiser

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 19:32:38 GMT

‘100 Men Who Give a Damn’ host fundraiser

The local group “100 Men Who Give a Damn About Yolo County” will be hosting its third networking and fundraising event at Uvaggio Wine and Beer this coming Wednesday. Uvaggio is located at 703 Main St. The event is scheduled from 6 to 7:30 p.m. In advance of their quick-and-easy quarterly gatherings, members nominate and select three local nonprofits to make brief presentations to the group, followed by secret voting and the selection of the highest vote-getter as recipient of every member’s $100 contribution.

At the Wednesday meeting, the three nonprofit projects will be Yolo Farm-to-Fork’s new Maxwell School garden, MOSAIC Children’s Museum’s new facility on Main Street, and Yolo Conflict Resolution Center’s new restorative justice program in Woodland.

Yolo Farm-to-Fork’s new garden proposed for Maxwell Elementary School supports edible gardens in every Woodland elementary school interested in sustaining a garden learning environment.

The Yolo Conflict Resolution Center’s restorative justice program proposed for Woodland is to meant to lessen the burden of government by reducing stress on the formal justice system by offering affordable mediation, facilitation, and restorative justice services; combating community deterioration and potentially reducing the incidence of crime through constructive conflict resolution; and educating the public in general about alternative dispute resolution.

And the MOSAIC Children’s Museum being developed at 539 Main St., will be dedicated to inspiring and empowering children through science, art, imagination and creativity.

By Democrat Staff with the Woodland Daily Democrat

http://www.dailydemocrat.com/article/NI/20171103/BUSINESS/171109942

Woodland’s Art Walk showcases 10th Annual Art Farm Gala

Wed, 01 Nov 2017 19:35:55 GMT

Woodland’s Art Walk showcases 10th Annual Art Farm Gala

This First Friday Art Walk won’t only feature the 10th Annual Art Farm Gala, but a variety of other venues as well. Chief among the activities taking place will be a reception from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, at Blue Wing Gallery on Main Street where two artists will showcase their works of oil and soft pastels. Susan Sarback, a native of New York City, reports she was surrounded by art from an early age. Wandering through museums and galleries since childhood, she developed an appreciation and respect for great art.

She began her formal study and eventually received a bachelors and master’s degree in fine art. After years of studying both abstract and representational art, she was still searching for a deeper understanding about light and color. She discovered Henry Hensche, an American Impressionist painter in the lineage of William Merrit Chase, and Claude Monet. An in-depth study with this master painter helped her uncover the deeper secrets about light and color that she was searching for.

Sarback’s paintings are about a quality of light that captures the moment. Her subjects are mostly landscapes and focus on color, rhythm, harmony and atmosphere. She responds to subtle qualities and makes them apparent through suggestion rather than description revealing the essence of a time or place.

International Artist Magazine named her one of the Master Painters of the world. Her paintings have been shown in galleries in New York City, San Francisco, Napa Valley, Sacramento, Seattle, and Santa Fe.

In addition to painting, Sarback is the author of “Capturing Radiant Light and Color in Oils and Soft Pastels,” She is the founder of The School of Light & Color in Fair Oaks.

Since 1986, she has lectured about color at over 100 art schools, museums, universities, and art associations. She has taught painting workshops and classes throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Also showing her work will be Karen Anable-Nichols, who is a recent transplant from Southern California, arriving two years ago.

“I am still enthralled with my new surroundings (such as) the American River, our quaint little village of Fair Oaks with its free-range roosters and the easy access to beautiful rural places like Woodland and the Capay Valley,” she sated. “Because of my childhood years spent in a rural San Fernando Valley, which no longer exists, I am drawn to the charm of the farm landscape and the older communities that still remain in this area. This exhibit is a combination of landscapes I’ve painted — some en plein air and others in my studio — and more illustrative genre work that attempts to capture the essence of “home”.

Anable-Nichols is a native Californian, born to parents who were both artistically talented and, therefore, was encouraged from an early age to follow her passion. With a bachelor of arts degree in art, she worked in the commercial realm as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator garnering contracts with Disney, MGM, the San Diego Zoo, Six Flags Magic Mountain and several restaurants and private business in the greater Los Angeles area.

With the acquisition of a secondary teaching credential she taught high school art classes for the Los Angeles Unified School District. Upon retirement from education, she established La Galeria Gitana, the first art gallery in San Fernando.

Leaving the gallery after nine years when her husband retired allowed her the opportunity to accompany him in relocation to Northern California where she is enjoying more time in the studio with her various creative endeavors.

Other art will be displayed throughout the downtown included, Mommy’s Jewelry Box, Father Paddy’s, presenting Whiskey & Stitches an Irish Celtic Folk group; Serendipity, Main Street Music Center, K&L Floral, Mosaic Children’s Museum, Form & Function, showing the art work of Claire Haag; Haven A Boutique, KJL Studios, presenting music by Patrick Jordon and a Ingram Life Fashions pop up; Mojos/Kitchen 428, Corner Drug Company, presenting the Hot City New Orleans style hot jazz and classic swing; Morgan’s on Main, Guinevere’s Cafe & Bistro, showing the art work of Arjana Hicklin, Ayla Robertson, and Amiah Umbay Poss; Blue Note Brewing Company, Uvaggio Wine Bar, Cheri Gastineau Farmers Insurance, showing the art work of Douglas Middle School, Morgans Mill and Kevin Cowan, who will be showing the art work of Dennis Dunston.

The highlight of the First Friday, however, will be the Art Farm Gala, which will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Historic Hotel Woodland in downtown, and feature wine and beer tastings from over 20 local farms, restaurants, wineries and breweries. Music will be provided by the Bottom Dwellers.

In addition to the “art harvest” representing local artists, there will also be a silent auction.

Proceeds from Art Farm support the Art & Ag Project, the Yolo Land Trust and Yolo Farm to Fork.

Sponsors for the event include Edward Jones; Adams Vegetable Oils; TS&L Seed Company; Cobram Estate; Farm Fresh To You; Muller Ranch, LLC; Todd A. Montgomery, CPA; Debbie & Mike Cracchiolo; PG&E; Banner Bank; Mike Campbell; Capay Canyon Ranch; Farm Credit West; Mark M. Glickman; Debra Gonella & Whit Manley; Half Moon Fruit and Produce Co.; LedgerPro Bookkeeping; Jim Provenza; Cleo Schreiner; Schreiner Farms; Tom & Meg Stallard; Tri Counties Bank; Yolo Federal Credit Union; and The Food Front.

A nationally recognized initiative, the Art & Ag Project weaves together the arts with a sense of place. Farmers are invited to open their land to local artists who are then able to capture the landscapes that would otherwise remain inaccessible and unseen.

As part of the Art Farm Gala, people will also be able to purchase a copy of the book “Cultivating Creativity: 10 Years of Art & Ag,” which will feature county artists and farms. Tickets or “shovels” can be purchased at yoloarts.org or by calling 309-6464. Tickets are $40 per person and include food and wine tasting. “Shovels,” which enable a person to obtain original artwork, cost $250 and include entry for two people to the gala.

Juried prize awards will also be presented to local artists by juror Frank Ordaz. Ordaz is an accomplished landscape artist and former painter for George Lucas’ special effects company Industrial Light and Magic, has juried a portion of the exhibition.

Exhibition awards will include the Juror’s Pick, Blue-Ribbon Artist, and Best in Category which will be announced at the Art Farm Gala. Farmers will weigh in for the Farmers Pick, and the public will be able to vote for the People’s Choice award at the reception.

By Democrat staff with the Daily Democrat

www.dailydemocrat.com/20171101/woodlands-art-walk-showcases-10th-annual-art-farm-gala

Swirl & Slice: Food, Wine and Beer Walk

Mon, 16 Oct 2017 19:38:27 GMT

Swirl & Slice: Food, Wine and Beer Walk

Tour Downtown Woodland restaurants and sample appetizers, wine, and beer. Featured restaurants include Father Paddy’s, Las Brasas, Uvaggio, Chickpeas, Guinevere’s Cafe, House of Shah, El Charro, Blue Note Brewery, and Mojo’s Lounge.

Tickets are $25 and available at BrownPaperTickets.com or at Mojo’s Lounge, 428 1st St, Woodland, or $30 day of the event. Each ticket comes with a wine glass and a Downtown Dining Passport. Check in at Heritage Plaza (2nd & Main Streets, Woodland) 5:30pm-6:30pm to register, buy day of tickets and collect your glass and passport.

The dinner will benefit Yolo Farm to Fork’s Growing Lunch Program at Maxwell Elementary. Through the Growing Lunch Program, Maxwell Elementary students will grow, harvest, and deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to their school cafeteria to be served in their lunch program. Maxwell students and teachers use the garden to get outside classroom and teach engaging hands-on lessons in Science, Language Arts, Math, and History.

Brewer’s Dinner to Support Edible School Gardens

Wed, 09 Aug 2017 19:41:03 GMT

Brewer’s Dinner to Support Edible School GardensBrewer’s Dinner to Support Edible School Gardens

August 27, 2017 will kick off this year’s Downtown Woodland Beer Week with a Brewer’s Dinner at Kitchen428 Restaurant and culminate with the annual Yolo Brewfest on September 2nd. The Brewer’s Dinner is a night to raise funds to help Yolo Farm to Fork partner with Dingle Elementary to revitalize their edible school garden program. The 4-course meal will highlight the unique flavors of the season by pairing local producers with a craft beer.

The dinner will spotlight craft beers from Blue Note Brewing Company, Sudwerk Brewing Co, Berryessa Brewing Co and Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. Tickets are $100 per person and can be purchased online at Brown Paper Tickets.com or in person at Kitchen428 Restaurant and Mojo’s Lounge. Event sponsors include Park Water Resources Drilling, Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, The Morning Star Company, Barrios Farms, InterWest and Nationwide Insurance.

The menu will highlight local farm fresh fruits and vegetables, grass-fed organic beef, baked bread, and local wines from Corkey’s Nuts, Panorama Meats, SunFed Ranch, Manas Ranch Peaches, Williams Family Sustainable Farm, Route 3 Wines, Matchbook Wines, and Zest Fresh Pastry West.

The dinner will benefit Yolo Farm to Fork’s Growing Lunch Program at Dingle Elementary. Through the Growing Lunch Program, Dingle Elementary students will grow, harvest, and deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to their school cafeteria to be served in their lunch program. Dingle students and teachers use the garden to get outside classroom and teach engaging hands-on lessons in Science, Language Arts, Math, and History.

Located in Downtown Woodland, Mojo’s Lounge and Kitchen428 Restaurant is a sophisticated local gathering spot in a historic building offering a Farm-to-Fork yet casual dining experience in the heart of the “Farms to your Forks” region of Yolo County and the Capay Valley. Mojo’s & Kitchen428 Restaurant specialize in seasonal, sustainable and locally sourced ingredients as well as seasonally refreshing libations and local beer and wines offered in the Lounge.

A portion of the cost of each ticket will be a tax-deductible donation to Yolo Farm to Fork. More information about the event and the programs it supports is available on the Yolo Farm to Fork website (www.yolofarmtofork.org) or on Facebook.

$9,000 in Garden Grants Awarded to Yolo County Schools

Tue, 23 May 2017 19:47:48 GMT

Yolo Farm to Fork and Local Businesses Partner to Award $9,000 in Garden Grants to Yolo County Schools

La Tourangelle Artisan Oils, Nugget Markets and the George W. Hinkle Memorial Fund partner with Yolo Farm to Fork to support 18 school garden programs throughout Yolo County. Yolo Farm to Fork, a local nonprofit, partnered with local businesses to offer competitive matching grants for school gardens, coordinators, supplies, volunteers, workshops, and networking opportunities. The $500 grant awards were presented to each winning school at an awards ceremony held on Tuesday, May 2nd at Korematsu Elementary in Davis:

The 18 school garden schools include: Southport, Riverbank, Westmore Oaks, Elkhorn, River City High, and Our Lady of Grace in West Sacramento; Gibson, Woodland Christian, Beamer, Woodland Prairie, Whitehead, Zamora, and Holy Rosary in Woodland; Korematsu, Cesar Chavez, Emerson Junior High, and Davis Waldorf in Davis, as well as Esparto Middle School in Esparto.

The school gardens that received grants are at various stages of development. Grants will allow some schools to plant a garden for the first time. At Woodland Prairie Elementary, a first time grant recipient, garden coordinator Odette Christensen states, “Our goal is to create an edible school garden that will become a living laboratory where our students can discover, experiment, observe and learn.”

Planned garden projects are as diverse as the schools themselves. In Davis, Korematsu Elementary plans to expand their chicken coop and add a sensory garden to support a “project-based Kindergarten unit, Social Emotional Learning (SEL), and Mindfulness lessons.” While, in West Sacramento, Westmore Oaks Elementary will purchase a greenhouse for starting seeds and a wheelbarrow compost screener. Teacher Barbara Butler explains, “We use scraps from our cafeteria and debris from our garden to create amazing compost. We just need a method for screening it back into our garden.”

At River City High School in West Sacramento, teacher Andrew Tait has launched the Diggers & Diners Club. This student organization is dedicated to growing and eating locally grown vegetables. The club has also launched a student-run CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) project. “We recently delivered Swiss chard and celery to 12 teachers on campus,” he shares, and the grant funds will help the students expand their new venture.

Both La Tourangelle and Nugget Markets are local Yolo County family-owned and operated businesses. Devoted to community since the first Nugget Market opened in 1926, Nugget Markets remains committed to offering quality products and to supporting local area farmers, producers, and local neighborhoods. With artisan oil production facilities in both France and Woodland, La Tourangelle is one of the few remaining oil mills keeping the 150-year heritage of quality nut oils alive using nuts grown in the fertile Central Valley of California. La Tourangelle is committed to a high quality of life for their employees as well as their community. You can purchase La Tourangelle Artisan Oil products at Nugget Markets. For more information, visit www.nuggetmarket.com and www.latourangelle.com.

The George W. Hinkle Memorial Fund was created to honor the life and legacy of a High School Principal and Teacher. Mr. Hinkle was an active and involved community volunteer, touting his mantra, “The body achieves what the mind believes!,” living his life to the fullest, stressing a healthy diet and exercise.

Yolo Farm to Fork is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing locally grown, farm-fresh food to school lunches, establishing recycling programs, supporting school and community gardens, and helping Yolo County residents get to know where their food comes from and the farmers who grow it. For more information, visit www.yolofarmtofork.org.

Whitehead one of six schools in Farm to Fork pilot program

Fri, 19 May 2017 20:52:12 GMT

Whitehead one of six schools in Farm to Fork pilot program

Whitehead Elementary recently revived the school garden, and this year it is one of six schools enrolled in the Growing Lunch program, a pilot project put on by Yolo Farm to Fork.

Other schools participating are Beamer and Plainfield in Woodland, as well as Westmore Oaks, Stonegate and Elkhorn Village Elementary in Sacramento. The program empowers elementary students to learn how to grow, harvest and eat fresh produce at schools while sustaining edible gardens on site.

Whitehead’s garden has an 11,000-square-foot plot, featuring 24 beds and about eight to 10 fruit trees — an insect garden was also recently planted. According to Michelle Johnson, a parent and coordinator for the garden, more than 200 pounds of produce were produced this year from the garden.

Johnson, along with Pauline Sanders, makes sure the garden is maintained when students aren’t in there, or over the summer.

Johnson has a son in kindergarten at Whitehead, she threw the idea of reviving the garden a few years ago with help from her husband. A teacher started an afterschool program, and things took off from there.

“We try to plant what can be eaten raw, like melons, lettuce, radishes and fennel,” she said. “At the end of the day it’s about getting the kids to try new foods, flavors, and learn about how food is grown.”

The produce goes to the school’s cafeteria, and Johnson said about 87 percent of the school has free or reduced lunch, so most of Whitehead eats what is grown in the garden.

Companies like Orchard Supply Hardware and Monsanto have provided tools and labor, while an average of 10 to 20 students are in the garden helping out on a weekly basis, the regular workday is Thursday from 3 to 4 p.m. with the aftershcool program.

Johnson said some teachers will take classes out to the garden as well to have them maintain the plot or just to have lessons on bugs. One class even planted a salsa garden, filled with peppers, tomatoes and the like.

She added that the community involvement is a big part of maintenance, volunteers are needed to keep the garden thriving.

Laura Ongaro, a recent graduate from UC Davis with a degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, interns at Whitehead’s garden through the Yolo Farm to Fork program. She’s been helping since the fall of 2016.

“I work with Michelle, we have a garden club hours program and kids have an extra hour out here,” she said. “Just general garden stuff. It’s cool because it really gets the kids to eat more vegetables. They are more into it when they’re involved.”

Ongaro said kids will pull vegetables off and eat them, dirt and all, as if they were pieces of candy. She, along with Johnson, said there is a growing interest throughout the county to further these types of programs.

“I enjoy it and I want to do something with this in the future. There’s been more interest over the years,” she said. “It gets the kids aware at a young age, they know the produce and gain knowledge of what grows in what season.”

Johnson added that with the growing interest Whitehead has heard from other schools that want to get a garden going, Gibson being one that’s reached out.

It takes community involvement to maintain upkeep, but the main focus will always be involving the youth.

“The kids really take ownership and responsibility because they actually maintain it,” Johnson said. “It’s not ours (the adults’), it’s theirs to maintain and take ownership of.”

By Tommy McCormick with the Woodland Daily Democrat

http://www.dailydemocrat.com/social-affairs/20170519/whitehead-one-of-six-schools-in-farm-to-fork-pilot-program

Yolo Farm to Fork $10K on Big Day of Giving

Thu, 04 May 2017 21:26:26 GMT

Yolo Farm to Fork $10K on Big Day of Giving

Over 600 hundred non-profits in the Sacramento Region are looking for your donations today on the Big Day of Giving. Yolo Farm to Fork is just one of those organizations and KCRA’s Letizia Ordaz shows us how it hopes to improve school lunches with the help of your generous donations.

At Westmore Oaks Elementary in West Sacramento, eating fresh has a whole new meaning. At the school garden students harvest their crops. They get to eat what they’ve grown right off the vine but for others new veggies may take some getting used to, “No flavor” says one student.

The program in Washington Unified School District (WUSD) is made possible thanks to a partnership with Yolo Farm to Fork. The non-profit awards funds to schools who apply for grants.

“This particular garden grows food for the school cafeteria as well as an educational component, so without their partnership this would not have happened”, says Karri Pina WUSD Food Service Director.

From the garden to the cafeteria, kids get to enjoy things like fava beans for lunch. “We always try new food”, “I think it’s pretty good to be healthy. Eat here and have healthy food” share some of the young gardeners in the program.

Thanks to Yolo Farm to Fork children at more schools are able to have a school lunch with fresh fruits and vegetables. “I like more vegetables than fruit, because vegetables more healthier because they give you more protein”, says one student.

Westmore Oaks Food Service Manager, Paula Tapia, says the garden program is clearly growing on kids. “I think this is the key. I really believe that them growing, them being apart of the garden process, makes them want to eat it a little bit more.”

Yolo Farm to Fork has a goal of putting and sustaining a school garden in every school in Yolo County and Big Day of Giving will help with that effort. “At the end of the day if affects the future, kit affects the kids who are here who are making the wise choices in the future”, says Pina.

Yolo Farm to Fork is looking to raise $10,000 today. This will help fund field trips to local farms and help more campuses implement their own gardens. Yolo Farm to Fork currently helps 43 schools with it’s garden program and it hopes to expand to all 60 schools in the county.

Yolo Farm to Fork currently supports more than 40 edible gardens in schools throughout Yolo County. As a private, nonprofit corporation, it depends entirely on local and regional support. It has been on the leading edge of the farm to fork movement, originating with the Davis Farm to School program in 2000. Run mostly on volunteer power, the organization is dedicated to bringing locally grown farm-fresh food to schools and families, and reducing waste through recycling and composting.

Spring Gala at Park Winters

Thu, 02 Feb 2017 22:34:16 GMT

Spring Gala at Park Winters

March 20, 2017, the first day of spring, will see a celebration of Yolo County’s agricultural bounty at Park Winters to benefit the programs of Yolo Farm to Fork. Foods from the farms, ranches and vineyards of Yolo County will be featured at the Park Winters Gala, beginning with local wine and appetizers followed by a 5-course dinner. The elegant event is an opportunity to enjoy a gourmet dinner using fresh local ingredients surrounded by the simple country luxury of Park Winters.

The Gala is a benefit for the 43 edible garden-learning projects supported by Yolo Farm to Fork. This past year, Yolo Farm to Fork, provided financial assistance and resources for 43 edible garden-learning projects, funded over 800 students to attend Farm Visit field trips, harvested 630 pounds of fruits and vegetables served in school cafeterias, employed college students in paid garden internships, and enrolled over 190 Head Start preschoolers in garden and nutrition-based learning activities. “Edible gardens are extremely cost-effective, hands-on learning environments where students experience the real world of biology, physics, math and literacy and link them to their classroom learning,” according to Suzanne Falzone, a career educator and Board President of Yolo Farm to Fork, “not to mention the links to better nutrition, recycling, sustainable growing practices, and the life-long satisfaction that comes from eating food fresh from one’s own garden.”

Yolo Farm to Fork, a private nonprofit organization, supports garden-centered and farm-based education for students. The organization is dedicated to bringing locally grown farm-fresh food to school meals and to reducing waste through recycling and composting. Its programs provide the real-life resources for kids to improve nutrition habits, fight obesity and integrate garden learning with classroom instruction while sustaining edible gardens.

The Inn at Park Winters is the ideal venue for this elegant event, for its luxurious country setting and its commitment to growing and serving only fresh local foods. Built in 1865, the Victorian farmhouse has been lovingly restored and landscaped to emphasize its roots in Yolo County’s rich agricultural heritage. An organic farm on its land provides the freshest produce for its gourmet kitchen where the Gala menu is being planned to feature of the best Yolo County agriculture has to offer.

Only 150 tickets will be available for the Gala. This year, with an additional donation to Yolo Farm to Fork, a commemorative plate will be available, created by local artist Laura Hanke through a partnership with YoloArts,. Tickets at $125 per person include all food and beverages, and will be available online through EventBrite (www.eventbrite.com) beginning February 1. A portion of the cost of each ticket will be a tax-deductible donation to Yolo Farm to Fork. More information about the event and the programs it supports is available on the Yolo Farm to Fork website (www.yolofarmtofork.org) or on Facebook.

Celebrate farm-to-fork at Dinner on Main Street

Fri, 16 Sep 2016 21:36:17 GMT

Celebrate farm-to-fork at Dinner on Main Street

Woodland residents will celebrate their farm-to-fork lifestyle at a Dinner on Main Street on Sunday, Sept. 18.

Presented by Tri Counties Bank, the event features locally sourced ingredients at the peak of ripeness prepared and served by chefs at some of Woodland’s finest restaurants, including Morgan’s on Main, Ludy’s Main Street BBQ, Savory Café and Kitchen 428.

“We’re looking forward to seeing hundreds of diners sitting at the long harvest table in the middle of our Main Street enjoying a farm-tastic locally sourced menu,” said Woodland City Councilman Tom Stallard.

Guests will be treated to appetizers, a multi-course dinner, wines and beers, and desserts showcasing a collaboration of Yolo County’s finest farmers and chefs.

“Woodland has always been about growing good food,” Stallard said. “Now we will celebrate together, hundreds of us, as we dine on Main Street where local chefs will dazzle us with freshly prepared locally sourced food. Join us!”

Proceeds for the event will go to three Yolo County community-based organizations that champion agricultural causes: Center for Land Based Learning, Woodland Farmers Market and Yolo Farm to Fork.

“Tri Counties Bank has served the agriculture industry for over 40 years,” said Richard O’Sullivan, executive vice president and chief commercial lending officer. “We are pleased to celebrate and to help nurture Woodland’s rich farming heritage.”

Tickets are $125 each and are available online at WoodlandsDinneronMain.org.

Special to the Davis Enterprise

www.davisenterprise.com/local-news/celebrate-farm-to-fork-culture-at-dinner-on-main-street/attachment/farmtoforkw-3/

Growing Lunch is Growing Strong

Thu, 01 Sep 2016 21:40:47 GMT

Growing Lunch is Growing Strong

Yolo County School Cafeterias Serving Fresh Food Grown by their Students

Yolo Farm to Fork is planting the seeds of healthy living through a new edible school garden program, Growing Lunch. Woodland and West Sacramento elementary school students are currently harvesting and delivering fresh tomatoes and melons they planted last spring to their school cafeterias . This fall students will plant carrots, lettuces and snap peas to be served in their cafeterias from December through April. The pilot program is designed to empower K-6 students to learn how to grow, harvest and eat healthy, fresh produce at school.

“We are excited to have strong support from three partners in this effort,” says Anya Perron-Burdick, Yolo Farm to Fork’s Program Manager. Generous grants from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and the Glory, Glory Sacramento Fund and corporate sponsorship from Bayer Crop Science will fund the pilot program for this school year in both Woodland and Washington school districts, at no cost to the schools. Five schools are currently enrolled in the pilot: Beamer, Whitehead and Plainfield Elementary schools in Woodland and Westmore Oaks and Stonegate Elementary in West Sacramento. A third school in West Sacramento will be added this fall.

Grant funding will cover the cost of the year-long pilot including all garden materials, stipends for garden interns and volunteers, project coordination and evaluation, plus publication of a guide for future participating schools in planting, growing, and harvesting protocols to ensure that healthy garden produce is served in the cafeteria. Food Service Directors in Woodland Joint and Washington Unified School Districts have trained their participating cafeteria staff members to receive, prepare and serve the fresh garden produce.

“The best part about this program is the excitement we see on the faces of all our children,” said Karri Pina, Food Services Director for Washington Unified School District. “They are granted an opportunity to reap the benefits of a unique learning experience that allows them to step outside the classroom and discover what it means to grow, maintain, harvest and eat healthier food, all while building valuable hands-on experience.”