Hello Farm to Fork Friends!
We are looking forward to the various summer events sponsors and school districts plan each summer to celebrate local and fresh healthy food. We’re also gearing up for our first ever Squash Summer Hunger event in June, celebrating summer meals and summer squash! More information will be available on our website soon.
Thank you to those of you that attended the strategic planning events we had in March - great networking was created and awesome ideas were shared. If you weren’t able to make it, a recap is available on our blog.
What to Harvest this Month
We’ve had a slow start to the growing season with our long, snow-filled winter, but spring is finally here. Pea shoots, radishes, mint, and arugula are ready now, and strawberries should be making an appearance shortly. Our Harvest of the Season program includes two delicious bread recipes that can help stretch those strawberries further—strawberry bread and banana split bread.
Get Involved!
Join the Local Food Advisory Council
The Local Food Advisory Council works to strengthen Utah’s local food economy, promote locally-owned farms, strong communities, and healthy eating, and improve food access for all Utahns. Right now there are two open seats on the council, one for an urban farming representative and one for a member of a local agriculture organization. This is a great opportunity to help Utah’s small farms have a voice at the legislative level. Learn more and apply to join the Council here.
Adopt a Classroom Cow
Teachers! Forget the guinea pig. How about adopting a 100-pound dairy calf for your classroom mascot by joining the Adopt A Cow program? This free program from Discover Dairy pairs classrooms with calves on working dairy farms to receive updates throughout the year. Sign up now for the 2023-2024 school year. Learn more and sign up here.
Help Prepare Backyard Gardens for Seniors
The Green Urban Lunch Box Back-Farms program connects volunteers who are interested in learning about vegetable gardening with senior citizens to build, cultivate, and maintain organic gardens in their back yards at no cost to the senior. Volunteers are needed to help with installing brand new gardens and prepping existing gardens for the spring. Tasks will include: weeding, grass removal, adding compost and soil amendments, and using aerating garden tools. The opportunities listed below are one-time volunteer events. Each volunteer event will be overseen by one of our experienced garden staff members. Learn more and sign up here.
Webinars and Trainings
The Growing School Gardens Summit, San Diego, CA, March 15-18, 2024
Over 500 school gardening professionals are expected to attend to share ideas, build connections and expand their knowledge base. This gathering will feature dynamic field trips, more hands-on learning, and an incredible lineup of new and returning speakers. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, the Growing School Gardens Summit is the perfect place to learn, connect, and grow with the school gardening community! Learn more here. Registration opens in September.
Improving Equity
Farming While Black
Leah Penniman is the founder of Soul Fire Farm, an Afro-Indigenous centered community farm committed to uprooting racism and seeding sovereignty in the food system. Soul Fire raises and distributes life-giving food as a means to end food apartheid. In this 30-minute podcast episode, Leah discusses the history of discrimination against Black and Indigenous farmers and the regenerative practices used on her farm. Give it a listen!
Job Opportunities
Farmers Market Promotion Data Internship, Salt Lake City
Utah State University and the Utah Farmers Market Network are seeking an intern to assist in the collection of standardized data from farmers markets in Utah. Data will be summarized and analyzed to identify the positive economic and social impacts markets have on vendors, citizens, and communities. This is a part-time position that pays $15-$18 per hour. Learn more and apply here.
Funding Opportunities
Lots of Compassion
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day and KidsGardening share a belief that the garden has the power to do more than grow flowers and herbs, it can grow people, communities, and even kindness, too. Together, we’re announcing our new Lots of Compassion grant program, designed to support local leaders looking to transform vacant lots into gardens to help grow compassion in their community. In 2023, 10 grantees will receive $20,000 each to transform a vacant lot into a garden. A total of $200,000 will be awarded annually. Learn more and apply here. Applications are due June 2nd, 2023.
Be sure to share your upcoming events, grant opportunities, and jobs with us so that we can share them here!
