Ohio's Office of Nutrition, part of the Department of Education and Workforce, is observing National Farm to School Month by spotlighting programs around the state. Its newest bulletin features two operations, Cory-Rawson Local Schools and Cleveland Child Care Inc. Kara Johnson is listed as the contact for farm-to-school support.
Cory-Rawson's garden started as a way to shore up school kitchen finances. Three years on, the district describes it as a food-service-led project that has become a model for hands-on learning. The rural site holds a large in-ground plot, a greenhouse and two raised beds. Students plant, plan layouts, study companion planting, adjust irrigation, harvest and prepare ingredients for cafeteria meals.
The garden also supports Family Consumer Science classes and work-study. Food service director Kirsten Gast said students used critical thinking and research to find solutions. Over two years, the district reports enough tomatoes for sauce to cover half a school year, zucchini for baked goods through most of the year, basil that lasted a full year once dehydrated, watermelon and cantaloupe served daily for the first two months of classes, cucumbers for pickles and peppers for cooked dishes.
Local beef is also purchased, with 1,437 pounds bought and 75 school days of garden produce in reimbursable meals. Cory-Rawson hopes to work with a local alumnus who owns a greenhouse and garden center.
Cleveland Child Care's Farm-To-Table Program dates to 2013, when it began with two 8-by-8 beds. It has grown into a children's garden with walkways, a bean tunnel, a bridge over an area called Tomato Valley and a grape-covered dome. Executive Director Ragelle Gigante recalled children's surprise when they recognized their own lettuce in a lunch salad, and advised starting small. The center reports over 500 pounds harvested, 42 meals using garden produce and 80 students involved. Families are encouraged to visit and take produce home, and Grandparents Day includes a group harvest.