School Greenhouse to Cafeteria Deadlines Approaching

Center for Rural Affairs accepting applications through July 25
Lyons, NE – The Center for Rural Affairs recently announced that they are currently accepting applications for their School Greenhouse to Cafeteria facilitation program for the 2016 to 2017 school year.  Applications to participate are due by July 25, 2016.
Four schools in Nebraska will receive one-on-one support from the Center for Rural Affairs in order to kick start or supplement a locally designed  school greenhouse to school cafeteria program.
Schools will ideally have a greenhouse available at the time of application, but all schools interested in developing a school garden are also encouraged to apply. Start up funds will be available for each awarded school.
Who:  Nebraska schools who have an interest in growing a Greenhouse/Garden to Cafeteria program in their K-12 district. Critical team members to involve in this project will include the ag educator/greenhouse or garden manager, school food service director and an administrator.
What:  Join a network of schools with greenhouses or gardens that are working to build student entrepreneurs, knowledge centered around growing organic foods, and the sourcing of school-grown foods into the school cafeteria and beyond.
When:  The 2016-2017 school year will kick off this round of one-on-one support, goal setting, webinar participation, production planning, networking and more. Applications to participate in the program are due July 25, 2016. Apply here. Four schools will be chosen and announced in early August.
“Building farm to school teams and setting goals helps to make a sustainable farm to school program,” stated Sarah Smith, Farm to School Lead with the Center for Rural Affairs. “This is an opportunity to engage students in hands-on learning, teach healthy habits, build an edible education program, and have a large impact on your community as your program grows.”
Applications will be accepted now through July 25, 2016, and are available here: https://goo.gl/X1uyq9.
This unique opportunity is made possible in part by the Blooming Prairie Foundation, and supported by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska.

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Established in 1973, the Center for Rural Affairs is a private, non-profit organization working to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities through action oriented programs addressing social, economic, and environmental issues.