October 12, 2008 by Sara Zoe.

While some details are still coming together, the general winter season farmers’ market schedule is shaping up! The first three markets are:

November 22, 9am-2pm, McIntosh Atlantic Culinary Academy, Dover, NH

December 6,  10am-2pm, Exeter Congregational Church, Exeter, NH

December 20,  9am-2pm, McIntosh Atlantic Culinary Academy, Dover, NH

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October 12, 2008 by Sara Zoe.

Application for farmers and food producers (.pdf)

Please email sarazoe@seacoasteatlocal.org if you have any questions!

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October 9, 2008 by Sara Zoe.

Friday October  17th - 7:00 p.m. at Apple Annie, 66 Rowell Road, Brentwood,  NH
The feast will be prepared by Chef Ted McCormack of Flag Hill Winery & Distillery.
The meal’s key ingredients will be provided by Willow Pond Community Farm, Apple Annie, Kellie Brook Farm, Yellow House Farm, and other local farms.  This special dining opportunity is limited to twenty people. Celebrate the harvest, support local agriculture, and enjoy a fabulous autumn feast!

Harvest Dinner Tickets:  $65 per person.  To reserve tickets, please call 340-0571 or email willowpondfarmer@yahoo.com

Funds raised will support the CSA Program at Willow Pond Community Farm.

MENU:
Apple and Duck Dumplings in sage and corn brown butter
Root Vegetable Carpaccio Salad - thinly sliced carrots, beets and turnips in cider and honey vinaigrette
Kellie Brook Farm Roast Pork with Kale and Apples
Or
Vegetarian Mini Pumpkin stuffed with curried brown rice, apples and chic peas
Maple Pumpkin Brulée and gingersnap cookie

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October 4, 2008 by Amy.

Back to school, already. As an adult, it is hard to remember day one jitters, that giddy feeling kids get as they step foot on school grounds in their new skirts and jeans. How nice to have a fresh start each year.

This September is different.  Monday, September 29, the Dow dropped over 700 points, the largest one day dollar drop in history. With the economy wavering, how does one clamor back and focus? Dover Public School food must get better—luckily reform is already in progress.

Mark Covell, food service director is up to his earring in financial woes. The main dishwasher is threatening to retire (a mere $40,000 replacement cost); the district food delivery truck went in for repairs; the Point of Sales (POS) system is going on 10 years; and the obvious, food prices are higher than they’ve ever been. Besides monetary setbacks, kids are picky eaters and dining services must sell food to make money, to keep it all in motion.

The first Dining Facility Council meeting of the year took place September 25. After a quick open discussion of the June 11 meeting minutes, the group tackled the slated six most important recommendations of the 17 that will be given to the School Board on October 6. Here’s the meat of what was discussed in the order of the agenda:

1. Provide parents with a list of healthy snack options posted on the district Website. Mark is assigned this task and will get it done.

2. Menus on Edline (the district-wide computer program for parents, students and staff to stay abreast of the latest) are not readable, the font is too small. Menus are run in Foster’s Daily Democrat, but without nutritional information. Mark will contact district IT staff to figure out the kink. In the meantime he will post menus in Word or Adobe. Mark is also looking to purchase a menu builder that will calculate nutritional values to meet upcoming state and federal guidelines. He is researching federal recommendations for the purchase.

3. A taste testing schedule for all schools will be devised.  This is in the works for elementary, middle and high school with food items suitable for the age group. Tasting is already in progress. Local plums, peaches and nectarines, while in season, made it into the schools. Guess what?—they were gobbled up. Hooray for Mark, he purchased local fruit.

4. School newsletters to be used as a communiqué.  Hand in the air; I volunteered to write material for Mark in an effort to keep parents in the loop about school food and proper nutrition. Farm to school is also an area that parents need to hear more about.

5. Visual displays will be posted in common areas in all schools to promote healthy eating and exercise habits. Mark has the posters but not frames. Readers: if you have large (poster size) frames in good condition, a donation would be much appreciated.

6. Public Information forums are one of the many ways to reach parents and encourage better eating and exercise habits at home. What happens at home is a strong indicator of how children will perceive and accept food and exercise at school. Parents also need to acknowledge the importance of purchasing locally grown foods. Dover schools are part of the UNH Farm to School program. It was thought that Apple Harvest Day might be a good place for UNH Office of Sustainability to educate parents. This year, was too late in planning a booth, but printed information will be available.  

Another important item on the agenda but not part of the dining facilities annual report was the Produce for Kids (PFK) mini- grant, a PBS Kids partner for school-based healthy eating. School representatives at the meeting were encouraged to ask health teachers to participate. Further information about the classroom contest and deadline can be found at http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/15015006/produceforkids.

One last bit, Styrofoam trays are used in some cafeterias because the dishwashers are not utilized, again due to monetary reasons—cost of water, detergent, and staff. Mark shared that back in the day when he started his career at Dover, the students helped wash trays at the end of lunch. This is not the case anymore thanks to liability issues. Mark was encouraged to look into who is stating the liability; local or state regulations. In schools around the nation, kids are in the kitchen cooking—using knives, and pots and pans on hot burners. Let’s think outside of the lunch box. Laurie thoughtfully stated that $45,000 is spent in garbage removal. At a glance, the cost of using reusable trays or compostable paper could offset garbage. Mark needs to run the numbers and share with the council.

The next meeting is set for November 20 at 9:00am at Dover Middle School in the café.  Progress is made at every meeting. It’s inspiring to see change happening at a local level, despite bleak times. I encourage parents and the public to get involved.

***

A question for blog readers… what do you think is fair, fun, and healthful (even sustainable) for Parent Teacher Organizations (PTO) to sell as school fundraisers? Some ideas to get the cogs turning: pencils, stickers, crayons, homemade jewelry, school supplies, knitted socks, raw veggie sticks or slices, fresh fruit, work certificates for yard work like raking leaves, etc.

Let us know if you have innovative ideas to share with school PTOs!

***

Reading assignment—from The New York Times:

Local Carrots with a Side of Red Tape

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/17/dining/17carr.html

6 Food Mistakes Parents Make

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/health/healthspecial2/15eat.html

***

A grant to consider if it fits district goals:

Healthy Sprouts Awards

The National Gardening Association administers the Healthy Sprouts Awards, sponsored by Gardener’s Supply Company. These awards support school and youth garden programs that teach about nutrition and the issue of hunger in the United States. To be eligible for the 2008 Healthy Sprouts Awards, your school or organization must plan to garden in 2009 with at least 15 children between the ages of 3 and 18. The selection of winners is based on the demonstrated relationship between the garden program and nutrition and hunger issues in the United States. Winning programs receive seeds, curriculum, and gift certificates for purchase of gardening materials. Due date: October 15, 2008. For more info, see: http://www.kidsgardening.com/healthysprouts.asp

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October 1, 2008 by Sara Zoe.

Turkeys too this month! I know what a difference the freshness makes for chicken - just amazing - and I can’t wait to get my hands on one of the 15 turkeys that will be processed today.

The fresh poultry will be available at Kellie Brook Farm Thursday October 2 - Sunday October 5 and at the Exeter Farmers’ Market on Thursday October 2.

Kellie Brook Farm is located at 1034 Portsmouth Avenue (route 33) in Greenland, NH. Feel free to call ahead, 603-702-0342

directions > 

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