Massachusetts Network of Farm-Based Educators

A little discussion, a little exercise, and a little food.
~ a 2010 participant describing the perfect gathering

October 17, 3-5 PM
Moraine Farm
Beverly, Massachusetts
Visit the Event Page for updates 

This gathering will introduce attendees to Moraine Farm, a property of The Trustees of Reservations, and the farm-to-cafeteria work they do with the Salem and Beverly public schools. This gathering will introduce different professionals in the farm to school world with a particular focus on the audience of farm-based educators, farmers and school food service staff. Attendees will also have the opportunity to see how one farm can successfully meet multiple objectives: providing healthy, fresh, local foods to the surrounding schools; providing opportunities for on-farm learning and community engagement; and operate a public access  extended season CSA.

  In 2013, the Massachusetts Farm to School Network will join the partnership with the FBEN and The Trustees of Reservations to cultivate and coordinate gatherings in the Commonwealth for farm-based educators and farm-to-school practitioners.   

By connecting the Massachusetts Network of Farm Based Educators to the broader Massachusetts Farm to School Network we seek to build connections between local food and farming educators and advocates in the school and community environments.

VT FEED's Three Cs Model

To guide our thinking and planning going forward, we have adopted the Vermont FEED (Food Education Every Day) model of best practices for rebuilding healthy food systems that cultivates links between the classrooms, cafeterias, and communities - where thriving, public access local farms are essential.  This 3Cs approach increases access to fresh, healthy food for all children through education and outreach in schools and communities.    

 

Host a Gathering
It is our hope that members of the network will continue to host opportunities to strengthen relationships and build the capacity of this network. We will support farms, schools and cafeterias that wish to host gatherings (informal or formal) at their site.  Please e-mail info@farmbasededucation.org if you would like to host a gathering in 2013. Network Gathering information. 

History of the Massachusetts Network of Farm-Based Educators
In the fall of 2008, 15 farm-based educators engaged in a facilitated discussion in Concord, MA to explore the possibilities of a formalized network.  Following that meeting, led by Mark Walter, a teacher at Boston Teacher's Union School, there have been many gatherings of the Massachusetts Network of Farm-Based Educators at various sites including: Waltham Fields Community Farm, Lands Sake Farm in Weston, Appleton Farms in Ipswich, Holly Hill Farm in Cohasset, Weir River Farm in Hingham, Fat Moon Farm in Westford and The Farm School in Athol. Topics discussed have included; connecting farm-based education to local schools' curricula, working with land trusts in targeted areas to preserve land, and identifying alternative resources for funding and volunteers. The interest in this group has grown and membership has expanded to include educators in the field of nutrition and climate change.

Since 2011, the Massachusetts Network of Farm Based Educators has been co-facilitated by the FBEA and The Trustees of Reservations, the nation's oldest regional land trust.