2024 Farm to ECE

Interested in applying for a Farm to School grant but don’t know where to start? Learn the requirements and how to apply for the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program Grant. Hear from the awardees of this prestigious grant as they share their application process, how they made themselves stand out, and ways they implemented the grant in their program.

Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) is not limited to traditional farming practices but includes everyday tasks that contribute to children’s learning and development. Explore how simple actions, like buying local produce and promoting healthy eating, align with learning standards for children aged 0-5. Discover how you may already be integrating Farm to ECE into your daily routine. 

Wondering how to make broccoli more tasty, bring the classroom outdoors, and achieve early learned standards by counting caterpillars? Farm to ECE programs are innovative, evidence-based approaches that give young children increased opportunities to learn about nutrition and agriculture, exposure to local produce, and hands-on learning through gardening.

Research shows that as a child’s brain is forming, so are their food preferences. These preferences become habits as they grow and are formed based on their food exposure, experiences, and environments. Farm to Early Care & Education initiatives offer increased access to healthy, local foods, gardening opportunities and food-based activities to enhance the quality of the educational experience.

Interactive activities help expand children’s worldview of the food they eat and drink. Discover an innovative collaboration between an early care and education center (ECE) in Connecticut and a working farm. This unique partnership provides children and their families with an insider’s view of the complex journey from farm to table.

Reports from the CDC reveal concerning statistics: each day 50% of children do not eat vegetables and 33% do not eat fruits. Surprisingly, the introduction of composting can have a positive impact on children’s willingness to try vegetables and fruits, as understanding their lifecycle encourages them to try new produce. Discover how a NY Head Start program incorporated composting to promote healthier eating.