GUILFORD — Garden coordinators from five Windham County farm-to-school programs recently gathered at Guilford Central School for a “cross-pollination” event.
Garden coordinators, often somewhat isolated in their unique roles, had the opportunity to share ideas, challenges, and successes with one another as they prepare for winter activities in the classroom.
Increasing numbers of area schools have hired garden coordinators in recent years, finding that they are a key component to a thriving farm-to-school program. In addition to taking care of the gardens with support from students and volunteers, these coordinators also plan and execute educational activities around gardening and cooking, and they facilitate teacher and student involvement in programming.
Sarah Rosow, Guilford Elementary's garden coordinator since 2018, hosted the event, showing the visitors the school's three garden areas and the outdoor classrooms. She concluded with a show and tell of sorts, where coordinators discussed useful equipment for cooking outdoors, curriculum guides, and sample lessons.
As they toured the campus, garden coordinators discussed their roles at their respective schools and what makes their programs unique. While Guilford's program excels at innovative outdoor teaching, Mandy Walsh of Westminster Center School offered the details of her upcoming Farm and Field Day. The event has been three years in the making, where students will participate in six farm-to-school stations.
Kathy Cassin of Academy School in Brattleboro spoke about her after-school cooking and gardening club while also gathering ideas about deterring the deer that had been eating all of the school's greens. After hearing that Walsh had some success with growing a border wall, Cassin remarked, “That's good to know, because it's been so frustrating losing our greens!”
Erica Frank of Central Elementary School in Bellows Falls, a registered dietician and a food service professional at the school, spoke about the value of getting kids involved in cooking.
Amy Duffy, the new garden coordinator at Newbrook Elementary School in Newfane, agreed.
“Giving kids a little more control over their eating then leads to better choices,” said Duffy, who works with each grade once per week.
“I'd like to pick Amy's brain a little more in terms of the scope and sequence, and also just learning how she works in every grade level every week and how she manages that because I'd like to move toward that model,” Rosow responded.
Food Connects, which hosted the event, says it looks forward to hosting more cross-pollination for garden coordinator events for their member schools throughout the current school year.