FFI Bits – April 6

FOOD SYSTEMS – Teresa Wiemerslage & Kayla Koether

Despite what Mother Nature has to say, it is getting closer to farmers market season. The 2018 Farmers Market listing has been updated and available at www.iowafreshfood.com.


EARLY CHILDHOOD – Haleisa Johnson

Fifteen $200 mini grants were recently awarded to support Farm to Early Care and Education in the classroom with priority to gardens and local foods. The awards can be used in a variety of ways to connect preschool age children to where their food comes from and introducing healthy eating habits.


ACTIVE LIVING – Ashley Christensen & April Bril

The spring Walking School Bus (WSB) season is starting!  We are always looking for more kids and volunteers to join this fun and healthy way of getting to and/or from school.  Contact your community’s WSB Coordinator to learn more!
Decorah (Walking and Biking School Buses!)- April Bril  abril@uerpc.org
Maynard– Ashley Christensen achristensen@uerpc.org
McGregor– Ashley Christensen achristensen@uerpc.org
New Hampton– Ashley Christensen achristensen@uerpc.org
Oelwein– Alesha Roll  alesha.roll@foodcorps.org
Riceville– Elaine Govern govern@govern-farms-homes.com
Waukon– Liz Happ ehapp@allamakee.k12.ia.us
West Union– Jes Wegner jlwegne1@gundersenhealth.org

Don’t see your community listed? Contact April Bril at abril@uerpc.org to learn about starting a WSB or BSB!


SCHOOL WELLNESS – FoodCorps and AmeriCorps Service members

BEE KIND TO BEES  For the March Harvest of the Month – Honey – Waukon elementary students took their learning beyond the classroom. On March 22, preschool, kindergarten joined first and second graders at the “Bee Kind to Bees” Fair held in the West cafeteria.

 

Central students also learned about bees.They learned about the pollination process, and about connecting to topics like math by tracing hexagons to make honeycomb artwork. They learned about the life cycle of a honeybees and tasted local honey.

 

ELKADER  Thanks to a growing interest in gardening and the availability of a greenhouse, Central students have been able to stock the school salad bar with leaf lettuce and cherry tomatoes during the winter months. According to Central science instructor Ann Gritzner, growing fresh produce was designed as a way to utilize the fertilizer produced by the school’s vermiculture project.

 

FUN FITNESS  New Hampton middle school students created an obstacle course for 4th grade students to compete.

 

QUICK! PICKLE THAT! Postville third-grade students made quick refrigerator pickles this March using cucumbers, sweet peppers, and fresh herbs like dill, thyme, and rosemary. Students learned about how preservation can keep local fruits and vegetables fresh during the winter month.


PARTNER NEWS

WALK ON IN WAUKON  A group of local residents is taking steps to make Waukon a more inviting place to walk. Walk-On Waukon is a non-profit organization which recently was formed to address the fact that many areas within the city do not have sidewalks.


TIP OF THE WEEK:

Want to make sure your seeds are viable? Try the “rag doll” seed starting method. It’s a great thing to do with kids–and they can easily see results. This video from University of Minnesota Extension demonstrates.


 

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