I’m so excited to be sharing this Canadian initiative with you! If you’re a regular reader here, you know that I love the local farms that I work with and I strongly believe that healthy, seasonal food is the best way to feed your family.
Farm to School Month Canada is thriving and “throughout the month of October Canadian farmers, parents, chefs, students, and teachers will be engaged in festivities to celebrate and to inspire Farm to School. They will meet in farmers’ fields and in school and campus gardens, kitchens and cafeterias.”
This is genius and I love that we are cultivating the love of farms and fresh foods at a young age. I have always felt that there is a true nobility to the profession of farming (I wrote about it here) and it’s important for children and adults alike to witness and experience it. We are so caught up in our phones, computers and materialistic possessions that we forget the important things in life like the outdoors, real food, and the real people who strive to provide us with the best seasonal produce.
There is nothing more empowering than teaching children how to grow food. The act of planting
a seed is simultaneously an act of hope for the future, the developing of the means for personal
food security and an act of community and bringing people together with food.” Jamie Richards,
Farmer, Primrose Elementary School, Mulmur, Ontario
Visiting the farms is always an inspiration for my recipes. Most days I show up at the farm with no idea what I’ll be making that week and I decide when I see what’s in season and freshly picked from the fields that morning. I find that my dishes from the farm always have a little extra something that reflects my excitement about the flavors and freshness. My readers notice it as well and I love that my enthusiasm is contagious.
Some farm recipes you may want to visit:
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Apple and Thyme
- Farmer’s Market Minestrone
- Sweet and Savory Blueberry Pizza
- Roasted Corn Salsa
And be sure to pop over to the Farm to Schools Canada website to find out how you can become involved. Your kids will have an experience that will last them a lifetime. Cheers!
Quotes and Photos from Farm to School Canada
8 Comments
Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert
October 20, 2017 at 10:47 amWhat a wonderful initiative. You know I believe in gardening and teaching people to grow their own vegetables and fruits. This is outstanding!
Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert recently posted…23 Brilliant Recipes using Canned Pumpkin
Robyn
October 21, 2017 at 5:08 amI agree, Tricia. It’s in 2 provinces right now but they will be rolling out across the country. I see that the are doing it in the US in some cities as well. It’s one of the best things we can do for our kids!
Robyn recently posted…Farm to School Month Canada
Chris Scheuer
October 20, 2017 at 11:32 amI love this post Robyn! It’s so true about the importance exposing children to the garden and where food comes from and how it’s grown. Scott teaches our grandkids so many life lessons in the garden!
Robyn
October 20, 2017 at 9:51 pmThanks so much, Chris. I love spending time in the outdoors with young kids. Nature brings us so many natural wonders that it can lead to the most interesting conversations!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
October 21, 2017 at 9:25 amSuch a great initiative! Teaching kids to think about their food is so important 🙂
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers recently posted…Pear, Gouda and Onion Grilled Cheese
Robyn
October 22, 2017 at 4:17 amI get so excited to think of kids having this farm experience, Jennifer. If they can develop a love for growing food from a young age, it will certainly serve them well in life. The time I spent in my grandmother’s garden with her are some of my favorite memories.
John/Kitchen Riffs
October 25, 2017 at 9:49 amWow, what a neat idea! Such a fun — and useful! — initiative. Thanks so much for sharing this with us!
John/Kitchen Riffs recently posted…Moroccan Beef Tagine
Robyn
October 26, 2017 at 4:35 amSo welcome, John. After doing some more reading on this, I discovered there are similar programs across the US as well. So exciting!