NC Farm to Preschool Network

Farm to Early Care and Education – Food Systems Internships
https://cefs.ncsu.edu/academics-and-education/internships/f2ece-food-systems-overview/
Learn about community-based food systems and help build local food connections between local farmers, food hubs, and child care programs. Learn about child care environments and their food services as well as rural and urban farming systems and local food procurement systems. Join us for a 10-week paid summer food systems internship experience at one of six Child Care Technical Assistance Provider offices in North Carolina:

Appalachian State University in Boone;
Buncombe Partnership for Children in Asheville;
UNC – Greensboro Education, Quality Improvement, & Professional Development (EQuIPD);
Lee County Partnership for Children in Sanford;
Wake County Smart Start in Raleigh;
Wayne County Partnership for Children in Goldsboro
Professional development opportunities and a tour of diverse agroecosystems across the state is included. Participants will be paid $15/hour, 40 hours per week for 10 weeks (May 20 – July 26, 2024). Travel to host sites and housing is not included.

For more information, please contact Caroline Hundley at [email protected]

Farm to Early Care and Education - Food Systems Internships Farm to Early Care and Education - Food Systems Internships Learn about community-based food systems and help build local food connections between local farmers, food hubs, and child care programs. Learn about child care environments and their food services as well as rural and urban farming systems...

Welcome to the Reading Nook:

We Are Grateful / Otsaliheliga
by Traci Sorell



Otsaliheliga is a Cherokee word that is used to express gratitude (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah means “we are grateful”). Author Traci Sorell, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, invites readers to journey through the year with a Cherokee family and their tribal nation as they express thanks for celebrations big and small. “As the crops mature and the sun scorches, we say otsaliheliga … as we sink our teeth into the season’s first harvest at the Green Corn Ceremony.” Watch a kid-friendly interview on StoryMakers with the author, Traci Sorell, then watch a read aloud of the book.

We Are Grateful | Otsaliheliga | Cherokee Language Read Along Happy Native American Heritage Month! As part of the Carnegie Center's "Family, Fun, & Learning Night" cultural celebration, we've asked our friend Diikahnéh...

Whip It Up!
by: NC Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
North Carolina has its fair share of cooler temperatures during the winter months and those days are perfect for a cozy bowl of soup! Soup is not only a great way to warm up, but also a delicious way to add more vegetables to a meal.

Three Sisters Soup has plenty of veggies, offering fiber, vitamins, and protein with every bite! In addition to the nutrition gained from this recipe, there is much to learn as well. A Native American recipe, the name represents the three main ingredients, corn, squash, and beans. One legend from Cherokee, North Carolina teaches that corn represents the oldest sister, squash the middle sister, and beans the youngest sister.

Kids may enjoy hearing legends about the three sisters that have been passed down from generation to generation. The legends may differ among tribal communities, and you can read about a few in the links provided.

If you participate in the CACFP or other Child Nutrition Programs, the USDA has resources available to assist with incorporating traditional indigenous foods into menu planning, including crediting information, recipes, cooking videos, gardening tips, and more. Another great resource is the Cherokee Tribal Food Distribution Program where you can learn about Cherokee foods, access recipes, cooking videos, as well as learn about the food distribution program.

Three Sister's Soup
Yield: 6 servings
Serving size for 3-5-years-olds: 2/3 cup

soup

For a creditable lunch/supper meal in the CACFP for 3–5-year-olds, serve the soup with 6 ounces of creditable fluid milk*, ½ oz eq grain and ¼ cup fruit, such as a whole grain roll and apple slices.

*Fluid milk must be unflavored low-fat (1%) or fat-free (skim) for children two through five years old.

Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray
4 ounces ground beef, at least 90% lean, raw
⅔ cup yellow onion, fresh, ¼" diced
2 cloves garlic, fresh, minced (1 clove is about ½ teaspoon minced)
⅔ cup butternut squash, fresh, ½" cubed
¼ cup green beans, fresh, cut into ½" pieces
3 tablespoons corn, frozen
1 tablespoon thyme, dried
¼ cup sweet potatoes, fresh, peeled, ½" diced
¼ cup zucchini, fresh, unpeeled, ½" diced
11 ounces kidney beans, low-sodium, rinsed, and drained or kidney beans, dry, cooked (1½ cups + 2 Tbsp)
⅓ cup tomato sauce, canned
⅜ cup tomatoes with juice, canned, diced
¼ cup water
Salt to taste
Instructions:
Coat a medium skillet with nonstick cooking spray and heat the skillet on medium–high heat.
Add ground beef, and brown. Heat to 165 °F or higher for at least 15 seconds. Drain.
In a medium stockpot, add browned beef, onions, garlic, butternut squash, green beans, corn, and thyme. Cook for 4–6 minutes on medium–high heat. Stir occasionally until the vegetables are tender.
Add sweet potatoes, zucchini, kidney beans, tomato sauce, tomatoes with juice, and water. Stir well. Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to medium, and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir often. Heat to 140 °F or higher for 15 seconds. Hold at 140 °F or higher.
Serve 2/3 cup.
CACFP Crediting for Lunch/Supper: ⅔ cup providing legume as meat alternate: 1 ½ oz equivalent meat/meat alternate and ¼ cup vegetable; or legume as vegetable*: ¼ oz meat and ½ cup vegetable.

*Please note, if serving this soup with the legume as a vegetable, additional meat/meat alternate will need to be served to meet the meal pattern requirements of the CACFP.

Recipe adapted from USDA

November 2023
As Thanksgiving approaches, and we celebrate National Native American Heritage Month in November, the Three Sisters planting method serves as a poignant reminder of the agricultural practices and traditions that is an integral part of Native American communities. The Three Sisters - corn, beans, and squash - symbolize not only the rich bounty of the harvest but also the spirit of cooperation and harmony that defines the essence of this holiday. These interdependent crops have been cultivated together for centuries, offering a sustainable and balanced approach to agriculture that is worthy of celebration. Just as we give thanks for the blessings of the harvest during Thanksgiving, we can also honor the wisdom of indigenous cultures and their reverence for the land and the crops they cultivate through the Three Sisters method.

Three Sister's

The Three Sisters planting method, deeply rooted in Native American agricultural traditions, is a sustainable and synergistic approach to gardening. This method involves planting three essential crops together: corn, beans, and squash. Corn serves as a natural trellis for beans to climb, offering support and stability. In return, beans fix nitrogen in the soil, which benefits all three crops. The sprawling squash vines create a natural ground cover, reducing w**d growth, conserving moisture, and providing shade, thus fostering a mutually beneficial ecosystem. This interdependent trio not only maximizes space but also enhances soil fertility, resulting in a bountiful and sustainable harvest that has been cherished for generations, embodying the principles of harmony and balance in agriculture. Think about adding the Three Sisters to your garden in the Spring! View here for more information.
https://www.nativeseeds.org/blogs/blog-news/how-to-grow-a-three-sisters-garden

https://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/email/newsletter/1416677357?fbclid=IwAR0S-XMaRkTGGT427zJ9-Ta-yAd0Kf1fquZdTBb9wssdvex31WTWGgJj2dc

How to Grow a Three Sisters Garden By Melissa Kruse-Peeples, Education Coordinator For many Native American communities, three seeds - corn, beans, and squash represent the most important crops. When planted together, the Three Sisters, work together to help one another thrive and survive. Utilizing the corn, beans, and squash togeth...

Happy Fall Ya'll. Welcome to Wondering Wednesday:
It is November, can you believe it??? I am wondering 😳 where the year has gone??
We are honored to celebrate National Native American Heritage Month 🌽 with our fabulous newsletter centered on Cherokee heritage and some great recipes and books and videos 📚 Check it out below!! Each Week we will highlight a great article to inspire you

National Native American Heritage Month ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project)

So much good crunching going on in NC! Thanks Franklin Farm Bureau Agents for supporting local and crunching an apple with us!

Woohoo! the NC Crunch is gaining ground!! Look at all the support and beautiful pictures of A Safe Place Child Enrichment Center 's Crunch 🍎 National CACFP Sponsors Association NC Department of Health and Human Services

NCDHHS Leads Annual NC Crunch Event This week, NCDHHS leaders joined the annual NC Crunch event at A Safe Place Child Enrichment Center in Raleigh in celebration of NC Farm to School and Early Care and Education Month. NC Crunch recognizes the importance of healthy eating habits in supporting child and family well-being, while promoti...

WOOHOO!!! Fabulous success ✨🍎🥕 what a great collaboration!!
Farm to School Coalition of NC

According to the CDC, one in two North Carolina children ages 1-5 do not eat a daily vegetable and one in three do not eat a daily fruit.

Farm to early care education is shown to increase children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables for one daily serving. The NC Crunch initiative serves as a fun and healthy way for children, teens and adults to sample locally grown produce, while thanking the professionals who contribute to growing and nourishing communities.

NC Farm to Preschool Network
Farm to School Coalition of NC

so many crunches around the state 🍎🍏🍐🥦🫑 YUM! thank you for tagging and showing off the fun of the
Farm to School Coalition of NC

! Tag us in your photos!!

Today is NC Crunch Day! We invite kids and kids at heart to crunch into locally grown fruits and veggies. Crunch with your school, early care and education site, organization, family, or community. Help us reach all 100 counties and 500,000 kids and adults with the NC Crunch. Crunch anytime in October. Post your picture with the hashtag . Look for these products that are in season now: apples, beets, cabbage, cucumbers, greens, mushrooms, tomatoes, snow peas, lettuce, pears, sweet potatoes, raspberries, radishes, pumpkins, or turnips.

Thanks to NC Farm to Preschool Network and Farm to School Coalition of NC for getting healthy, delicious, crunchy food into our preschools!

https://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/email/newsletter/1416652957
Today is the Crunch 🍎🍈🥕 It is not too late to participate!! register at the link and join us! snap a photo and tag us!!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSebfXgYKrbxeVZb1EB6mVGn9tEcd_RHKC8iHlCPNtCTvXWELQ/viewform

It's Time for 2023 NC Crunch!! ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project)

It's Time for NC Crunch 2023! 🍎🥕

Join the state of North Carolina in celebrating Farm to School and Early Care and Education Month by crunching into a locally grown fruit or vegetable on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at noon or any time during the month of October that works for you. The NC Crunch is also a great opportunity to thank all those involved in feeding our communities. This event is about uniting together to celebrate North Carolina agriculture, locally grown fruits and vegetables, and healthy eating. Participants of all ages are invited to crunch with their schools, early care and education sites, organizations, families, or communities. Help us reach all 100 counties and 500,000 kids and adults with the NC Crunch! Learn more and register.https://growing-minds.org/north-carolina-crunch/

https://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/email/newsletter/1416641309
Happy October 🍏🍎🧅🍐🥭 it is Fall Ya'll and National Farm to School Month.

With fall comes harvest and celebration—starting with National Farm to School Month!! This season provides opportunities to joyfully engage with families and start or continue building your relationship with them. Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15, and of course Halloween and Dia de los Mu***os come at the transition into November. This may be a great month to start thinking about or deepen conversations about important food traditions in the lives of families and staff.

We all bring our cultures with us everywhere we go, with our language, customs, attitudes, beliefs, and in other ways. Families are children’s first and most important teachers. When we work with families from this knowledge and perspective, it can help us build stronger relationships and even better quality care.

One way to think about family engagement is through the 5 R’s, from Five Rs for Promoting Positive Family Engagement | NAEYC by Bweikia Foster Steen. The 5 R’s are respect, responsiveness and reassurance, relationship, reciprocity, and reflection. Believe it or not, farm to early care and education can support each of these R’s! Check out these farm to ECE family engagement resources from Community Groundworkshttps://www.communitygroundworks.org/sites/default/files/Engage%20Families%20with%20Farm%20to%20ECE_reduced%20size.pdf

National Farm to School Month ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project)

Fall is coming soon and it's time to plant your fruit plants and 4-H can help you add to your garden! With 27 varies to choose from you're sure to find something to please everyone's palate. Visit our plant sale site for more details. 🍀🫐🍎🍇🍑 http://go.ncsu.edu/guilford_plant_sale

Via Rain or Shine Mamma

Welcome to wondering Wednesday! 🤔
wondering what to do in the garden in October?
check out this really great walk through.

October Garden Checklist - Fall Gardening Tips October Garden Checklist - Fall Gardening Tips - In this video I go over fall garden and landscape task. October is a great month for planting. It is also a ...

Join us Oct 18th support local agriculture by crunching, something delicious for NC Crunch!

October is National Farm to School Month! We're celebrating all the local food and farm connections in the classroom.

You can join us for the North Carolina Crunch on Oct. 18. You don't have to be a student or educator to participate! Just gather a group and crunch into a local fruit or veggie (an apple or anything else that makes a crunch!) on Wednesday, Oct. 18, or another day in October. Find resources for how schools, farmers, businesses, or other groups can get involved at growing-minds.org/north-carolina-crunch/

Post pictures of your Crunch activity on social media with the hashtags and ! Register your event to get additional resources. No event is too small to register and you can skip the questions for schools if your event will not be held in a school. NC Crunch is co-sponsored by NC Farm to Preschool Network and Farm to School Coalition of NC.

Pictured: Student in the school garden at Verner.

Celebrate the season with children by using autumn leaves for playing-and learning about science, art, and literacy, or by creating a habitat for wildlife through gardening.
Learn more about autumn leaves for play and learning on the NLI website or HERE:
https://naturalearning.org/autumn-leaves-for-play-and-learning/
Learn more about wildlife gardens on the Ni website or HERE:
https://naturalearning.org/26-wildlife-gardens

https://www.cacfp.org/2023/09/19/child-nutrition-enhancement-act/
Why it Matters
The Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 (KKFA) temporarily allowed for a 10-cent increase in reimbursement and for tier II family day care homes to receive tier I reimbursement rates. These temporary provisions were vital for CACFP providers across the nation. However, on June 30, 2023, the KKFA expired. As a result, the 2023-2024 reimbursement rates released by USDA show a decrease in reimbursement rates for many providers. Tier II family day care homes have been impacted the most, with a 52% decrease in reimbursement (see % change in reimbursement chart below).

In order to ensure that providers are able to continue to operate the CACFP and do not drop off of the program, increased reimbursement is needed. Eliminating the tiering system will also keep family day care home providers from having their reimbursement cut in half and remove a significant barrier to family day care homes joining the program.

Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act The Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act was introduced in the House by Congressman Landsmen and Congresswoman Bonamici to permanently increase reimbursement and eliminate tiering.

https://youtube.com/?si=NDXKLSxFhHIafmM8
🧐
Welcome to Wondering Wednesday 🤔 Wondering how other programs are adding gardens, farm to preschool, local procurement, and more?? then check out our YouTube channel with some fabulous centers highlighted to inspire you!

NC Farm to Preschool Network - YouTube North Carolina Farm to Preschool NetworkThe North Carolina Farm to Preschool Network uplifts early childhood educators with inclusive resources, equitable op...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gAv56TL_hQWlO9PJov3Ik2KkCXjgoYxX/view

join us for the 🍎🍈 October 18th at Noon or anytime in October. Register here!

NC Crunch Flyer 2023.docx.pdf

"In a world of social and natural disconnections, children must have every opportunity to enjoy a variety of sensory experiences, and to engage in 'conversations' with nature."