Seasonality, or the concept of eating according to the current season’s harvest, and location (the beautiful and hilly driftless!) were the determining forces behind the development of the Northeast Iowa Harvest of the Month calendar. This calendar (see below) is a three-year curriculum guide for introducing seasonal, local foods to school aged children. Continue reading
Tag Archives: AmeriCorps
Harnessing the Harvest
It is harvest season here at Allamakee and boy do we have a bounty! In clearing the garden beds for a winter planting, we harvested beautiful beets and krafty kohlrabi to be used by the Waukon Middle School Cooking Club. We also pulled a few surprise carrots from the beds! Continue reading
Farm to School Month in Allamakee!
October was a very special month for students across the nation that eat school lunch – Farm to School Month! Throughout the weeks leading up to Halloween, Allamakee schools celebrated by hosting cafeteria taste tests, learning how local food impacts the communities we live in and filling lunch trays with locally grown apples, pork and beef! All local food was purchased through the Iowa Food Hub which provides transportation and a market for farms growing food within 150 miles of West Union, IA. Typically, these are beginning farmers who harvest within the six county region of Northeast Iowa. Continue reading
Farm to School Month Special Guest: Kohlrabi!
October is an exciting month in northeast Iowa! The leaves are changing color, the air is becoming crisp and harvest season is winding down for most farmers. As we enter autumn, we honor the summer of hard work by harvesting and sharing garden bounties with friends and family. Schools across the county have joined together to celebrate this time of plenty through Farm to School Month, a month dedicated to developing and applauding strong connections between schools and local foods. Continue reading
Grooving like Gladiators
On Monday of Homecoming week, the Waukon Middle School spiced things up by doing a Rome-themed brain break! Continue reading
Iowa AmeriCorps 4-H Outreach Program Has Wide-Ranging Impact in Iowa
It is not partisan.
It does not cater solely to the old, young or anyone in between.
Home in Northeast Iowa
“That’s my super taster, her name is Miss Erika!” I heard one student explain to his mom as he waved to me while I biked by him standing on the sidewalk waiting to cross the street.
“She’s the one that taught me to make those frozen bananas and yogurt!” shouted a first grader to his grandmother while I was out for a mid morning run.
The voices and faces of the children I served and the staff I worked with will forever be a reminder of this year of service. A year filled with laughter and learning, growing and sharing, moving and teaching, and a year that fills me with thanksgiving for all of the schools and communities that I was able to be a part of. As I move forward from this year, I am thankful that I was fortunate enough to land a full time position working in Decorah, and that I am able to continue to call Northeast Iowa my home!
Two Spots Left!
We are still accepting applications for AmeriCorps service members for the 2013-14 school year! Please spread the word and encourage applicants to apply today! Continue reading
Seeking AmeriCorps Members
The Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative (FFI) in partnership with Luther College is currently accepting applications for 2013-2014 AmeriCorps positions. Continue reading