…h local food and farm to school experiences.” So, if you agree with Peter, come out and show your support for the Growing Minds program. Growing Minds has been a leader in the farm to school movement since it began in 2002, providing resources and support so that thousands of children across the Appalachian Grown™ region are enjoying edible gardens, farm field trips, cafeteria taste tests, and local food served in their school lunch. But we need y…
…tists divide plants into families based on their characteristics and their common ancestors. Plants in a family share common characteristics, just like humans inherit or develop shared characteristics with their own family members. Along with Nightshades, other well known vegetable families include the mustard or brassica family (examples: broccoli, collards, and cabbage), legume family (examples: peas, beans, and peanuts), and cucurbit family (ex…
…/2 cup boiling water to the gelatin mixture and whisk until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Add the corn syrup and whisk until combined. Add the birdseed and mix well. Place the bowl in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes until the liquid firms up enough that it won’t leak out from under the cookie cutters. Set your cookie cutters onto a parchment lined baking sheet and fill them with spoonfuls of the birdseed mixture. Using the back of the…
…your school garden. Visit Sow True Seed on the web at www.sowtrueseed.com….
…A great singalong, complete with a CD or access audio singalong and video animation online at barefootbooks.com/drivetractor. Learn about farming through the seasons. Sung by SteveSongs….
…es investigates the eating habits of other creatures in the swamp–until he comes upon a big green one with lots of teeth who finds wide-mouthed frogs simply delicious. Watch a librarian-led read aloud of this pop-up book on YouTube. It’s Mine! Our next book is It’s Mine! by Leo Lionni. In this fable, three frogs spend their days fighting over air, water, and land. When a heavy storm brings them together in fear, they learn how important it i…
…liday came to be? Learn more about the history of Groundhog Day at History.com. Coloring Sheet In our region, groundhogs may be frequent (if not entirely welcome) visitors to gardens throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Despite their cute appearance, groundhogs can be a pest to farmers and gardeners when they start nibbling (or devouring) the leaves of vegetables and other crops. While groundhogs can be a nuisance to humans, groundhogs also pl…
…the Appalachian Mountains in McDowell County. The Lee family is part of a community of Hmong farmers. The Hmong people are native to Laos and Vietnam, and many came to the United States as refugees after the Vietnam War. Western North Carolina is home to one of the largest Hmong communities in the United States. Lee’s One Fortune Farm specializes in growing Asian produce. They sell their produce at farmers markets where they encourage customers t…
…rion, NC. “Our vision for the farm is to try to improve the farm, help the community, help the environment, do best in taking care of the soil. Farming is not easy. Sometimes you have weather, diseases. You have to enjoy every moment. You have to go out and say okay, I can do this, I can do this better. I like farming. It’s a job, but I enjoy it,” said Jorge. Find Growing Minds educational resources that compliment this video below. Lesson Plans &…
…plant parts (roots, stems, leaves), nutrition/tasting new vegetables, soil composition and health, or farm life. Find suggested Growing Minds lesson plans and resources to pair with this video below. Lesson Plans & Resources Preschool Colorful Plate Spinners lesson plan Garden Color Hunt lesson plan Garden Plot Crackers lesson plan What Plants Need lesson plan Root and Shoots lesson plan Grades K-2 Seasons on a Farm lesson plan Harvesting in the G…