It’s not unusual to see classes held outdoors at Alonsa Community School. Students regularly eat their lunch there too. That’s because what they’re learning — and what they’re eating — comes from the school’s yard. Two years ago, this tiny school of 130 students decided to dig up part of the schoolyard lawn and fill...Read More

Beyond connecting with local farms and farmers, Haida Gwaii schools are incorporating hunting, gathering, foraging, gardening and greenhouses into their schools’ food supply. This idea emerged naturally in a place where wild foods are so plentiful and the culture of feasting and sharing food is central to the island culture. This remote archipelago along the...Read More

Vancouver Coastal Health Authority dietitians and public health nurses are helping students get interested in growing and enjoying healthy food. They are members of the Farm to School Vancouver Area Regional Hub (F2SVA) that oversee Farm to School activities in the Vancouver area. A Vancity credit union grant provided the funds to hire a local...Read More

Salad bars in schools. An oxymoron?  Not in the US where the 4000th school salad bar was granted earlier this year.  As part of Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign, over $10 million in salad bar equipment and training has been provided to US schools. Farm to Cafeteria Canada (F2CC) is championing the same model in...Read More

A local school garden project is providing not only fresh produce, but also a number of learning opportunities for the students. Students at Beckley-Stratton Middle School have helped grow the seeds, plant the vegetables and beautify the spaces where three gardens are located at the school. The first garden, located behind Beckley Elementary School, was...Read More

This Community Gardener’s Guidebook is an easy-to-follow guide for beginner gardeners. This month to month guide provides detailed instructions on gardening, as well as tips on growing seeds indoors, watering and composting. Links to online gardening resources are also offered in the guide. By the North End Food Security Network Read More…Read More

Many fruit crops introduced to northern Manitoba by gardeners can survive and produce fruit. The major challenges in growing introduced fruit are extreme weather and a short growing season. Success at gardening in northern regions has more to do with choosing the best locations, keeping soils fertile and well-watered, using hardy plant stock and investing...Read More

Photo Above: A mural depicting the Saskatchewan First Nations School Garden Program. Graphic Facilitation: Shelley Keyes. First Nations school communities in Southeastern Saskatchewan have started a school garden program to help children, youth and families make healthy, local, and sustainable food choices. There are three schools involved: Chief Gabriel Cote Education Complex, Keeseekoose Chiefs Education Centre,...Read More

Above: Eight L-shape raised beds provide lots of growing opportunity for the students of Grosvenor Elementary School, Winnipeg. Photo: Mark Klassen It’s great to see how many people in Winnipeg want to engage youth and community in the act of growing food. We are fortunate to be able to help some of those folks in their...Read More

Photo: Yun Leong Something shifted in 2010.  Two cities that had been overcoming barriers to school gardens and getting local foods in classrooms now found themselves starting farms on school grounds. These farms added one more educational and food production tool to the complicated puzzle of Farm to School. Some wondered if school farms would be...Read More