Farm 2 School

The Farm to School program aims to improve the health of school children by increasing access to locally grown, nutritious, safe, and culturally appropriate foods in at least 12 schools within the northern and interior regions. Fernie's Farm 2 School program started in 2008 with the Fernie Academy. We were part of 16 communities that were chosen to pilot this project, from Fernie to Fort St. John.

The Fernie Farm to School Salad Bar program engages with local organic farms and the Fernie Community EcoGarden to provide local school children with locally produced foods, a nutrition-based education program, composting system, monthly newsletter and experience growing their own food. Approximately 75-100 children aged 5 - 16 years participate in the Farm to School Salad Bar Program twice per week. Strengthening the capacity of our local food system in Fernie by creating bonds between local growers and the community, the Fernie Farm to School Salad bar program broadens knowledge of the importance of eating locally and expands experiences growing and harvesting local food. We aim to increase student access to fresh, locally-grown, and nutritious foods.

Farm to School from Beyond Recycling on Vimeo.

The Farm to School Salad Bar is an initiative of the BC Healthy Living Alliance (BCHLA). The initiative is managed and administered by the Public Health Association of BC (PHABC). It is guided by a 15 member advisory committee including representatives from BCHLA, PHABC, Healthy Eating Active Living in Northern BC (HEAL), Northern Health, Interior Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Land, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport, the BC Farmers Market Association, and School District 28. Programs are emerging in communities across the northern and interior regions of BC with the support of principals, teachers, students, farmers and many others!

See http://www.phabc.org/modules.php?name=Farmtoschool to learn more about this amazing program that is spreading throughout BC>