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Monthly Farm to School News from Growing Minds
January 2025
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As winter settles in, seeds in the ground are snug and still and some animals are enjoying their long hibernation. We too should slow down, reflect, and be kind to ourselves. There are lots of ways you can continue to engage your students with farm to school activities as you gear up for spring. Try some of the following below.
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Winter is a great time to make seed balls to plant in the late winter or early spring. You could even give them to friends and family for gifts! Use three parts clay to one part potting soil or compost. Ask children to pick a seed of their choice to add into the mixture. Milkweed, wildflower, and sunflower seeds work well. (Milkweed attracts butterflies and is the only plant that Monarchs lay their eggs on.) These seed balls do not need watering or to be broken apart; they just need to be thrown in the yard somewhere sunny. Visit NASA’s Climate Kids website to find more tips for making seed balls. If you are in and around the Asheville area contact us about our free seeds for educators at growingminds@asapconnections.org.
Let’s not forget about our bird friends this winter. Kids can make a homemade bird feeder, then watch to see who shows up to enjoy the feast. To make a simple bird feeder, you will need the following supplies:
- Empty toilet paper or paper towel tube
- Peanut butter (or any nut butter)
- Bird seed
- String
First, spread a thin layer of peanut butter all over your paper tube. Next, roll the tube in the birdseed to cover. Thread a string through the paper tube and tie the ends together, leaving enough string for a loop to hang the feeder. Hang your feeder outside on a tree branch and enjoy watching the birds visit the birdseed buffet!
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When you can’t get out to a farm in the winter, we bring the farm to you. Our Meet Your Farmer videos include virtual tours of local family farms to share with students, plus instructional videos for educators beginning to implement farm to school activities at their schools, including edible gardens, local food taste tests, and classroom cooking lessons. Check out Smallholding Farm’s video here to find out why winter carrots are their favorite, and the full Meet Your Farmer video series here.
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Whether you’re looking for a sweet eating apple or a tart baking variety, you’ll find what you need in Western North Carolina at your local farmers markets, farms, and farm stands. While apples are harvested in the late summer and fall, this hardy crop can be successfully stored throughout the winter.
Apple Carrot Salad Recipe and Lesson Plan This classroom-friendly recipe does not require any cooking, and the local apples and winter carrots make it a sweet treat that kids will love! The associated lesson plan includes classroom suggestions for apple activities and curriculum connections. View here to get cooking!
If you are in and around the Asheville area contact us about our lending library and lending kitchen kits at growingminds@asapconnections.org.
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Buncombe Community Member Feedback Requested Deadline: January 20, 2025 A group of local organizations, including Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, have come together to better understand the needs of our community regarding local food access. To help us gather this information, we are asking you to take just 2 minutes to complete a brief survey. Your responses will help inform programs and initiatives aimed at improving food access for all. The survey is available in three languages for your convenience: English, Spanish, and Ukrainian. Thank you for your time and input!
2025 GroMoreGood Grassroots Grant
Deadline: January 31,2025
Brought to you by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and KidsGardening to bring the life-enhancing benefits of gardens to communities across the United States. 170 programs will receive $500 - $1,500 in funding. Learn more and apply here!
Growing Minds Farm to School Training
February 19th, 2025 from 3:30-4:45 pm Join the Growing Minds program for an introduction to Farm to School. In this virtual training you will learn about the different components of farm to school, hear how you can use our toolkits and resources to support your farm to school goals, glean insights from farm to school champions in our region, and brainstorm activities to get you started. All are welcome no matter what age you teach or what your experience with farm to school is! Register here to reserve your spot.
If you attend the training and are an educator in North Carolina, we will send you a print copy of our "I Tried Local..." Toolkit for FREE!
ASAP’s 2025 Business of Farming Conference
February 22, 2025 from 8:30am-4 pm.
The 22nd annual Business of Farming Conference, presented by ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) will take place at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, Henderson County, NC—which is a location change from A-B Tech, as originally announced. The A-B Tech Conference Center is undergoing repairs after serving as a disaster relief location during Hurricane Helene.
The conference focuses on the business side of farming, offering beginning and established farmers financial, legal, operational, and marketing tools to improve farm businesses and make professional connections. This year's conference will also have a strong emphasis on resilience planning and resources for post-Helene recovery.
Learn more here.
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Our office is located at 306 West Haywood Street, Asheville, NC 28801. We are open to the public Tuesday through Thursday from 9am to 5 pm. Call 828-236-1282 or email
Growing Minds is a program of ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project). ASAP's mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food.
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