OSD Farm to School
  • Farm to School is a nationwide movement to enrich the connection between communities and their local foods. Nutrition education, school gardens, and procurement of local foods for school meals are a few of the delicious ways we aim to nourish our community's wellness, economy, and environmental stewardship. Explore the pages here to find fun take-home activities, virtual field trips, school garden information, and much more!

    Visit the National Farm to School Network website.

3 components of F2s
PVE garden.
Great Apple Crunch 2019.
Field Trip

Community Events

  • Dane County Community Cookbook

    Dane County Community Cookbook

    The farm to school specialists in Dane County collaborated to put together a cookbook highlighting local produce in Wisconsin throughout the seasons. The booklet contains a variety of recipes, ranging from desserts, side dishes, mains, salads, and much more!

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  • Hyvee Harvest of the Month

    Hyvee Harvest of the Month

    AmeriCorp farm to school specialists collaborated with the local Hyvee in Oregon to put up posters to educate clients about the health benefits and types of recipes one can reap from the HOM.

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  • OAFP Food Drive Collaboration

    OAFP Food Drive Collaboration

    AmeriCorp farm to school specialists collaborated with the Oregon Area Food Pantry to host a food drive during April and November of the academic calendar. A total of over a 1,000 pounds of food was collected!

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Harvest of the Month

Harvest of the Month - Asparagus

May 2023 Newsletter


  • Bee Lawns

     

    ​​If you share my passion for sustainability, you may be interested in learning about bee lawns also commonly referred to as pollinator lawns. I recently attended a webinar hosted by UW Extension where Kristine Moncada, from the University of MN Department of Horticultural Science, shared valuable insights on bee lawns. She covered topics such as the benefits of bee lawns, using bee-friendly plants, and how to care for them.

    You might be curious about the connection between bee lawns and sustainability, and that's a valid thought. According to Moncada (2021), bee lawns are eco-friendly because they employ low-input methods that require less fertilizer and pesticides. This means that fewer helpful insects, like pollinators, are harmed or killed. Moreover, the beneficial microorganisms in the soil are not adversely affected, and there is less worry about pesticide runoff in bodies of water.

    As I have discussed, pollinator lawns are a great way to support bees and other pollinators. But what exactly are they? Essentially, a bee lawn is a mix of different flowers and turfgrasses like fescues and Kentucky bluegrass. The specific flowers you use can vary, but it's important to choose plants that are low-growing, can handle being mowed and walked on, provide nectar and pollen for pollinators, won't let the turfgrasses take over, and are perennials. Some examples of pollinator-friendly flowers include Dutch white clovers, self-heal, creeping thyme, ground plum, laceleaf tickweed, and calico American aster. You may already have some beneficial plants on your lawn, like common violets and dandelions.

    Not only do pollinator lawns promote a healthier environment, but they can still be used like a regular lawn. After-dinner games, summer water fun, and BBQing can all be enjoyed while maintaining a bee lawn. The only difference between a regular lawn and a bee lawn is that you will mow a little higher than you normally would. This ensures that flowers can attract pollinators, but it has also been found that mowing encourages blooming. Some pollinator lawn owners choose to partake in "slow mow summer" (mowing higher and less often), but it is not necessary. Bee lawns are flexible and a manageable alternative to traditional lawns. 

    If pollinator lawns are something you are interested in, check out the University of Minnesota Extension page for more information. The website goes into more detail about which plants to use, how to establish and maintain a bee lawn, as well as observing your bee lawn’s pollinators. In addition, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension page has a link to the webinar recording as well as a handout with links to various articles.

    Happy summer and happy planting!


    AmeriCorps Farm to School Member Rebekah Herring ‘23

     

    Resources

    Moncada, A. K. (2021). Planting and maintaining a bee lawn. UMN Extension. https://extension.umn.edu/landscape-design/planting-and-maintaining-bee-lawn#:~:text=Bee%20lawns%20are%20environmentally%20friendly,household%20like%20a%20regular%20lawn. 


Spotlight: Locally Sourced Beef and Yogurt for OSD Meals!

  • Thanks to the efforts of the OSD Farm to School Program, ground beef used in school meals is sourced from Greenfield Farm in Iowa County, less than an hour from our schools.

    Farm Spotlight: Greenfield Farm is owned and operated by the Gruenenfelder family (pictured below). Their first generation farm began as a dairy cow operation, but they have recently started raising pigs, cows, and other animals for meat as well. Jason and Kris Gruenenfelder are committed to sustainability in their agricultural practices. They have worked over the last few years with the National Resource Conservation Service to transition to regenerative grazing for their animals. This method helps to build soil and store carbon, as well as keeping the animals happy and free to roam. They are also big believers in our Farm to School and local food goals, and are excited to be providing local food for school meals. They already work with other regional school districts to provide local protein to kids, and we are happy that they will be working with us as well! In a few weeks, the Farm to School team will have the opportunity to visit Greenfield Farm and learn more about their operation. We will take notes and videos and share them with students so that they can get to know the people and processes that bring food to their lunch trays.

    All About Beef: Our new weekly deliveries of ground beef from Greenfield Farm will play an important role in the meals and nutrition of Oregon students. Ground beef is used in a number of different school meals week to week. Meals made from scratch in our kitchens that will now include Greenfield Farm’s ground beef include the Sloppy Joe, Beef Tacos, Breadsticks with Italian Meat Sauce, and the Homemade Lasagna. In these meals, Greenfield Farm’s ground beef will serve as an important source of protein, which helps build muscle and keep kids energized and focused throughout the day. It also is a good source of iron, which supports red blood cell growth, as well as B vitamins and zinc which keep the immune system healthy.

    Greenfield Farm

     

    Local Yogurt in America's Dairyland:

    Farm to school has been hard at work after the introduction of local beef into school lunches earlier this fall, and we have another local food addition to report!

    Yogurt at school breakfasts and lunches will now be sourced locally from Odyssey Brands. Odyssey is part of the Klondike Cheese Company, a 3rd generation business located in Monroe, Wisconsin, which also sources dairy from nearly 100 local Wisconsin farmers. The company makes various types of cheese, dips, and yogurt, but when they started producing 4 oz yogurt cups they reached out to OSD to see if we could use them in that size. Of course we were interested: their yogurt is award-winning and the new 4 oz yogurt cups are perfect for school meals. We are so excited to be working with them and getting delicious, local yogurt to our students starting on January 18th, 2022!

     


Meet the Farm to School Team:

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School Nutrition Director

Hello, I’m Sarah, the School Nutrition Director for OSD. Food helps us grow, think, and experience the world. I think it is important to serve healthy meals that feature local produce as well as fruits and vegetables grown in our school gardens. When we see our food grow, we can understand the power it has in our bodies. Food is also fun, playing with your food is an exciting way to feel connected to what you are eating. I often create pictures with my food- it just tastes better when my fruit salad looks like a smiling sun.

*PS: This is a picture of me with my dog, named Rutabaga. His name comes from the root vegetable - rutabaga. The vegetable is known for keeping your heart healthy and your bones strong. Rutabaga and I go on many hikes, so he is helping me stay healthy just like the vegetable.


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AmeriCorps Farm to School Specialist

Hello, my name is Michelle Naragon.  I recently graduated with my master’s in clinical nutrition with an emphasis in food systems from the University of Wisconsin Madison.  Food has always been a tool to bring people together throughout my life.  As a child I would watch my mom prepare all of her meals and baked goods from scratch and travel to local farms to purchase produce and commodities.  Once I reached my adolescent years, my dad had me help him care for his orchard and garden.  Seeing where my food came from a young age empowered me to make healthy choices and recognize the importance of supporting local farmers when possible.  

Serving as an AmeriCorp Farm to School Specialist enables me to share my passion for gardening, healthy eating, and nutrition with our future’s leaders to ensure they recognize the power of healthy food choices as for them and the importance of supporting and choosing local foods when possible.  Throughout my time with OSD, I hope to encourage children to try new foods, learn about nutritious foods, and get their hands dirty by caring for the garden. 


Phone:

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

AmeriCorps Farm to School Specialist

Hi, my name is Rebekah Herring! I am a new F2S member in OSD. I have my bachelors degree in Studies in Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood Ed. After graduating I served with another AmeriCorps program, City Year, in Metro Detroit as a peer mentor & tutor. I grew up in a small town full of nature & wildlife, which played a huge roll through out my childhood. Some of my fondest memories while growing up include working in the garden with my parents, going for nature walks along the Horicon Marsh, and my mom teaching me how to cook delicious, homemade food.=

I am passionate about working with youth and serving with the AmeriCorps F2S program will allow me to provide nutrition education, encourage students to make healthier decisions, and get involved with my students' families and community. It is my hope that throughout this year students try new foods and activities, learn more about where their food comes from, and overall feel a sense of empowerment from their newfound knowledge in all things food and gardening!

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