Farm to School programs generally connect schools with local agriculture. Schools can improve cafeteria meals, provide a hands-on introduction to nutrition and natural sciences, support the surrounding farm economy, and increase communities' understanding of the importance of local agriculture, environmental protection, and farmland conservation. The websites and information listed here are considered to be potentially useful to a Farm to School program.
EXISTING FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAMS & RESOURCES
• Programs:
Morse High School - The Terra Nova Garden
• Resources:
Master Gardeners School Garden Program - Request consultant, Explore county school gardens, and view Plant a Seed, Watch it Grow web guide to begin or maintain a school garden.
FARM
Farmer's Markets - Search for certified farmer's markets in the county.
California Buy Fresh Buy Local - Search for local foods by county.
CAFF Growers Collaborative - Serving Southern California.
Slow Food San Diego Convivium
Stein Family Farm - National City Living History Farm Preserve.
Tierra Miguel Foundation Farm - Offering education programs for the renewal of the earth and humanity through agriculture, education, and the healing arts.
San Diego Roots Sustainable Foods Project
Barn Tours - The county fair school programs provides school students or youth organizations tours of the livestock exhibit.
Plant-Grow-Eat - San Diego County Fair. phone:858-755-1161 x 2407 - Jill Coughlin; email:jspivey@sdfair.com.
Bates Nut Farm - U-pick pumpkin patch, tractor-pulled hay rides, petting zoo and pony rides.
Carlsbad Strawberry Company - U-pick strawberries and educational tours.
Victoria's Gardens - U-pick strawberries, barnyard animals and petting zoo.
Wholesome Heritage Farms Pumpkin Patch and U-Pick Strawberries - 21345 San Pasqual Rd., Escondido, CA.Phone:760-746-8822.
Open year-round. Fresh organic produce, U-pick strawberries, corn stock maze (in the Fall), petting corral, tortoise races, picnic area.
School and group tours welcome. $5 per person and includes a pumpkin. Open through Oct. 31, noon-6 pm.
4-H Youth Development Program
County Farm Bureau
County Agriculture, Weights & Measures - Agricultural Commissioner.A program each year during the County Fair in Del Mar. The Fair provides elementary schools with vegetable seeds, containers and potting soil. The children grow the vegetable plants and bring their container to the fair for judging.
GARDEN
Master Gardener
School Gardens - Cooperative Extension resources for elementary schools' gardens.
Garden Based Learning Resource Center
Home Horticulture Program
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program
Pest Management Recipes
Composting Workshops & Resources - Solana Center for Environmental Innovation Programs in Home Composting.
Food Not Lawns - Focused on "cultivating an edible future" and working together to offer information, facilitate communication, and otherwise act and effect local change regarding a variety of food and land related issues.
The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College
Children's Organic Ethnobotany Garden - A part of the World Beat Center, which is active in collaborating with community organizations to provide nutrition/gardening programs in San Diego.
Community Farms & Garden
Escondido Community Gardens Program
Mission Hills Garden Club
Camp Stevens Organic Gardening Programs
City Farmer's Nursery - Offers free classes and gardening advice.
Nursery and Garden Centers - General nursery and garden centers listing for the region.
Digitalseed - A Southern California Gardening Resource.
San Diego Regional Sustainability Partnership
Green Machine - "Seed to Table" Agricultural Education.
Recycling Education Program
CAFETERIA & FOOD SERVICE
Food Preservation Guides
NUTRITION
Nutrition Education Programs - FSNEP & EFNEP
City Heights Wellness Center - Offers cooking demonstrations, food preparation, nutrition planning, safety education and tips for shopping economically for nutritious foods.
San Diego Food Bank
5 A Day Power Play
San Diego Nutrition Network
Planet Health - Boys & Girls Club offers Teen Cuisine cooking classes, focus is on the 5 A Day Power Play.
City Recreation Centers - Youth Cooking Classes.
Classy Sassy Salsa Canning Classes
"Food For Thought" - Jimbo's...Naturally nutritional guide and cooking tips.