The Local Foods Movement is an old idea that has been getting a “reboot” in the last decade. There are many government agencies and non-profit organizations that are promoting local food production. Farmers are working diligently to increase their customer base. Local citizens want fresh food. The only problem is that local schools have no set curriculum on local food production and its benefits. Our future generations don’t yet have a platform to fully explore their food choices.

It is challenging to develop a plan for a curriculum in which there is not set standard of information. There is an abundance of research, small “kiddy” activities, and promotional information. However, there is not a set document that showcases all necessary information that citizens should know about local foods and agriculture systems.

This makes my job difficult, yet worthwhile. I have the opportunity to pull from a variety of resources and make a curriculum that comprises a HUGE variety of knowledge on local foods production. I can put my CRAZY twist on things!

I have will be successful because I have dedicated mentors that have worked with farmers and agriculture systems for years. They are guiding me to find the information that my students need to know in order to develop a passion for local food production.

No, a CSA is not a rainbow of matching baskets full of vegetables. Aren’t they pretty, though?

CSA is common acronym that stands for Community Supported Agriculture, but it means so many things to so many people. The main purpose of any CSA is for farmers to have a more direct line to consumers in addition to the traditional roadside produce stand or farmer’s market. This idea presents itself in many different forms.

A CSA program could be…

-One farming family that enroll two dozen community members to “subscribe” to produce year round.

-An individual that sets up a network between farmers and community members. The individual organizes the program, markets the program, collects items and prepares the boxes, and makes a profit from the produce sold.

-A cooperative in which farmers and local citizens are members of a campaign to distribute local produce. This is a non-profit format that reaps benefits to all involved. A local example of this type of program is the “Sandhills Farm to Table Cooperative.” Check them out at www.sandhills.deliverybizpro.com

-A group of farmers that come together and offer a variety of produce in the form of baskets or boxes to a subscribed community members.

I am a member of two CSA programs, the Sandhills program mentioned above and the Robeson County Farmer’s Market CSA. On July 2, 2014, I was able to spend time with the manager of the Robeson CSA, Ann Marie Hatcher, in order to understand the “behind-the-scenes” operation of a CSA.

The Robeson County Farmer’s Market CSA Program is a unique blend of other CSA programs.  First, farmers in Robeson County must become annual members of the Robeson County Farmer’s Market (let’s call it RCFM because who doesn’t love acronyms?!). This allows them to sell at the market in Lumberton, NC any time of the week throughout the growing season. Advertised market times are Wednesday from 9am-Noon and Saturdays from 7am-Noon. In order to become members, they must be certified by the RCFM board of a local extension agent. The certification simply shows tha the farmers lives in Robeson County and is growing the actual produce that they wish to sell. This is an important regulation that many “farmer’s markets” do not use. The RCFM board is comprised of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Mrs. Hatcher, who organizes the CSA program, is the RCFM Board Secretary. There is also a market manager that takes care of the market grounds and is paid a stipend by the Robeson Extension Office.

Once the farmer’s are members of the market, they have the opportunity to provide produce for the CSA program.  Local citizens are encouraged to sign up for the CSA and there is an application process for each “growing season” throughout the year. Mrs. Hatcher receives a very small percentage of the sales in order to manage and organize the CSA.

The RCFM CSA members can purchase weekly boxes that contain produce ($65 a session), beef ($70 a session), or egg ($11 a session) shares produced in Robeson County. This CSA is the CHEAPEST and BEST QUALITY program I have ever seen. The all-natural, antibiotic-free beef is supplied by Moore Brother’s Farm. It is absolutely delicious!

This year, there are over 40 different CSA members and they can pick up at two locations. Members receive a list of their produce sources. This promotes the local farmers and encourages sales at their own farms. Volunteers help to pack each box before pick-up times on Wednesdays.

This RCFM CSA program is testament to the passion and work ethic of our local farmers and the support of the community. CSA programs are benefit to everyone involved. Join one today!

This past Saturday, June 28th, I worked with the Robeson Extension Office as they hosted an Agriculture Extravaganza at the Robeson County Farmer’s Market in Downtown Lumberton.

The Farmer’s Market is open every Wednesday from 9am -Noon and Saturday from 7am-Noon during prime growing season (Spring, Summer, Early Fall). Over two dozen local farmers comprise the market.

Each year, near the beginning of the Summer and truly prime fruit and vegetable season, the Robeson Extension Office hosts the Agriculture Extravaganza in order to showcase farmer’s produce and provide local citizens with examples of fresh, nutritious recipes they could make at home. This year, over 180 pounds of local produce was donated by the farmers for this event. Extension agents involved with the event included Shae Ann Dejarnette, Casey Hancock, Mack Johnson, and Christy Strickland.  The agents organized and prepared over a dozen dishes and recipes for distribution.

The following samples were provided along with recipe cards:

• Cucumber Lemon Infused Water
• Blackberry Mint Infused Water (I made some AWESOME infused H20)
• Cucumbers and Cherry Tomatoes with Light Ranch Dip
• Watermelon
• Cantaloupe
• Tortilla Chips with a choice of Peach Salsa, Tomato and Corn Salsa, or Cantaloupe Salsa.
• Roasted Peanuts
• Zucchini Muffins
• Grilled Cabbage Steaks
• Grilled Vegetable Medley
• Grilled Pizzas
• Eggplant Mozarella
• Slider Hamburgers

Visitors began congregating around the booth at 9am and were eager to try the FREE samples. Each visitor signed in with their name, race, and gender for data collection.

I really enjoyed interacting with the booth visitors. It was great to watch them sample a recipe and then start talking about how they could cook some of their vegetables at home.  I was able to swap recipes with a few ladies on grilled vegetables.

Even though I was raised in Robeson County, I was caught off guard by the poverty and obesity present in the county. The Robeson Extension Agents are doing a great job with this event as they try to show local citizens that vegetables or fruits do not have to be fried, covered in butter, or stirred with sugar to be tasty. Education is the first step in meeting the challenges with local food production.

A “work week” at the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, or NCCAT, should NOT be allowed to serve as a “work week.” This center is truly meeting its purpose- to rejuvenate teachers and provide them with resources in their profession.

This past week in the Kenan Fellows Summer Institute  was long and busy, yet relaxing and refreshing. I left Cullowhee with approximately 547,482 technology tools and websites use in my classroom. When considering the highlight of my week, it could have been the FANTASTIC meal service:

I have a husband and two children under three years of age at home. This past week I did not have to cook in or clean the kitchen…every mother’s dreamland! The only way that I did not gain ten pounds this week at NCCAT was because of my long, QUIET, relaxing hikes each morning. These hikes could have been my favorite part of the week…

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Check out the awesome fungi I met!

On Wednesday, we enjoyed a beautiful trip down the Nantahala River with our NOC guides and biologists, Peter and Mark. With a birthday on Earth Day and a college minor in Natural Resources, I was in heaven. This could have been my favorite part of the week- no computer screens, no required chair sitting….it was just fabulous.

In stark contrast, I even had an enjoyable time on Tuesday and Thursday learning about the 547,482 technology tools I could use in my room. Honestly, I really enjoyed learning how to “Flip” my classroom and listening to all of the smooth sounds of Kahoot. One of my close friends through the week, Melissa, even helped me overcome my past “Pinterest Anxiety” and get back into pinning awesome ideas for my classroom.  I worked with a small group to review all of the awesome tips, apps, and websites from the week and place them on a Pinterest board.  This is a great way for me to apply my love of Pinterest to my career and will prevent “mini mom meltdowns” over the birthday cake or home decorating ideas from Pinterest that I can NEVER complete. My time spent learning about new techniques in the classroom and my work in small groups could have been the best part of my week…

Check out my mini group’s best ever Pinterest board:

I truly enjoyed my week at NCCAT, but the real highlight of the week was not something found in Cullowhee or a product of the Summer Institute Agenda.  The real highlight of my week was found in the people that I was able to meet and the realization that there is not one single personality, background, or passion that makes someone a great teacher. I spent the week with people from every cultural background, personality type, and area of North Carolina. I met some individuals who were “born” to be teachers because teaching was in their blood. I became friends with two beautiful women that became mothers in high school and still worked their way through college to become successful in their careers. Teaching is a passion that is not sparked by the same thing for us all. It is a passion that finds us where we are, and helps us to work through the tough years, low pay, and screaming parents to help our students meet their future goals.