Vermont Farm to School & Early Childhood Network Annual Gathering
The Vermont Farm to School & Early Childhood Network is a statewide network of advocates, practitioners, and educators across the state providing leadership, coordination, and advocacy to advance new and existing farm to school efforts in Vermont classrooms, cafeterias, and communities.
Join us at Franklin Events Center at the Howe Building in Downtown Rutland as we convene to celebrate our past year and plan for the future. We'll have large group presentations, small group discussions, action team reflections, and time to chart the course for the next year ahead.
All are welcome! The gathering is open to anyone who is interested in strengthening food systems education for our youth and getting more local food into school cafeterias and early childhood programs. Whether you're a longtime farm to school champion, or brand new to the movement, the gathering is the best opportunity to plug into farm to school and early childhood projects and events from across the state.
Optional Pre-Gathering Activities: Learning Journeys & Picnic Lunch
Come a little early and visit a nearby organization doing great work in the farm to school space, then gather for lunch.
10–11:00AM Learning Journeys
We’re offering three guided offerings to choose from, let us know which learning journey you’d like to attend in the registration form:
- Shrewsbury Mountain School with S.A.G.E. (Shrewsbury Agriculture Education & Arts Foundation)
- Evening Song Farm
- Early Childhood Program (details to come)
11:30AM–12:30PM Picnic Lunch
All three learning journey groups will meet up at the Vermont Farmers Food Center for a tour and lunch. Bring your own lunch, or order a catered lunch. Lunches cost $13 each and must be pre-ordered during registration. Please bring your own beverage. Options include:
- Pesto chicken salad, tomato, and lettuce wrap
- Ham, green apple, cheddar, whole grain mustard, mayonnaise, and lettuce sandwich
- Falafel, tzatziki, tomato, cucumber, and baby spinach wrap (vegetarian; can be made vegan by substituting the tzatziki—let us know your preference while registering)
All options can made on gluten-free bread or as a salad. Please make note of any changes you require on the registration form.
1–4:30PM: Convene at the Franklin Events Center for the Gathering
Join the Vermont Farm to School listserv to stay up to date. Please share this with any colleagues or partners that may be interested in joining our Network!
The Vermont Farm to School & Early Childhood Network is coordinated by Vermont FEED, our partnership project with NOFA-VT.