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 Growing Minds is Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project's (ASAP) Farm to School program, and the Southeast regional lead agency for the National Farm to School Network.
We work to connect farms and schools and give children positive experiences with healthy foods, including farm field trips, nutrition education, school gardens, and local food in cafeterias.
Educators, farmers, parents, and all community members are invited to join us.
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Components of Farm to School
Local Food in Schools Schools provide farmers with a viable market in their community, while local farmers supply our schools with the freshest food possible.
Farm Field Trips This component teaches kids where food comes from and who is growing food in our communities.
Nutrition Education Cooking demonstrations and classes help students learn to enjoy preparing and eating healthy local foods.
School Gardens Students will eat what they grow. We give them skills, experience, and a connection to their agricultural heritage.
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What We're Doing
Our current projects include:
- Serving as the Regional Lead Agency for the National Farm to School Network
- Offering experiential nutrition education with chefs in the classroom
- Supporting school gardens
- Providing resources through the web
- Building connections to help schools serve local food
- Training educators, chefs, and Cooperative Extension
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Jackson County Farm to School Education Project
ASAP’s Growing Minds is currently partnering with professors at Western Carolina University and area community colleges to integrate Farm to School into the course of study for pres-service teachers, early childhood educators, and health science students. Additionally, we’re working with the Jackson County school system and Head Start on Learning Lab sites, locations where university and college students can see Farm to School in practice! Learn more about our Jackson County Farm to School Education Project HERE.
This project is supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation
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Farm to School at Your School
If you are interested in bringing Farm to School programs to your school, we want to provide community and curriculum resources to help you get started. Please look at the resources on this site, and contact us.
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