Fall Greetings from the Chair
By: Carol McQuillen on September 02, 2010
Common Roots became a non-profit 501c3 organization in September of 2009. As of June 30th, our South Burlington Food Service will collaborate with Common Roots, farmer and businesses to launch a Farm to School Program in our schools this fall. Our partners will also include: Bread and Butter Farm, Farm at South Village, Rockville Market Farm, Healthy Living and New Breed Communications. The following actions are in progress for the year one Farm to School program:
- The South Burlington Food Service will hire a coordinator for the Farm to School program. One day each week there will be a menu which utilizes as much fresh, local food as possible. The role of Common Roots will be fresh food education in our K-8. Educators and volunteers will work with students to prepare some of the Farm to School foods each week, within prepared lessons.
- Common Roots is building a collaborative partnership with Bread and Butter Farm. We will be growing winter greens in a high tunnel hoophouse. The hoop house will grow greens for local school salad bars and local markets. Common Roots also has food growing at this farm 1/2 acre.
- Common Roots is producing food on 1/2 acre of the Farm at South Village. The food will be washed, prepared and frozen during the winter months for local school cafeterias. Some foods will be prepared right off the farm this fall.
- Common Roots will have the opportunity to glean food from Eric Rozendaal’s Rockville Market Farm in Starksboro (aprox. 1/2 acre).
- The South Burlington Food Service will have a joint committee with Common Roots to plan successfully, assess needs, and gather data to measure outcomes.
The Board of Common Roots would like to thank you for your moral and financial support to date. We would also like you to join hands with us and support the mission of Common Roots as we take our next steps in enhancing our local food system in order to feed our children and community better. We are currently raising funds for the educational programming and equipment necessary for a successful Farm to School program. If you are new to our mission, please consider the value of better nutrition. Common Roots was awarded AmeriCorps Member positions this spring and then learned AmeriCorps did not receive federal funding. Hence, this is an opportunity for our community to lend support as we prepare to enhance the education of healthy foods.
Will you help us get rooted as we engage students in food education?
