UVM Food Feed

Farm to Preschool Movement Creates a Culture of Inclusion and Generosity

Posted by Guest Author | November 30, 2016

By Alison Bell

For close to a decade, the Burlington Children’s Space (BCS) been working to develop a culture of food security to benefit the children and families that they serve.

The preschool is located in Burlington’s Old North End and serves a racially and economically diverse community. Close to half of the school’s student base is below the poverty line, meaning children would qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school’s tuition works on a sliding scale. Families pay tuition based on their income levels, and different amounts are covered through state subsidies based upon need. Half of the students at BCS are subsidized completely.

Photo: Courtesy of Burlington Children’s Space

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Posted in Vermont | Tagged education, local foods, Vermont | 3 Comments

The Skinny Pancake Keeps It Local and Finds Success at UVM

Posted by Guest Author | November 22, 2016

By Mariam Haq ‘16 and Jasper Wei ‘17

The Skinny Pancake began as a food cart vendor specializing in crêpes on Church Street. Over the years, it has grown into a restaurant group with several locations in Vermont and one in New Hampshire. The Skinny Pancake at UVM opened about a year ago and has become one of the most popular dining locations on campus. In order to find out more about how The Skinny Pancake came to UVM and what unique contributions it has made to the UVM dining scene, we sat down and talked to Keith Lada, executive chef of the restaurant.

skinny-pancake-at-uvm

Courtesy Photo/Smith Buckley Architects

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Posted in UVM | Tagged local foods, UVM | 1 Comment

Exploring Food Waste and Food Insecurity at UVM

Posted by Guest Author | November 17, 2016

By Caylin McKee
UVM Dining Sustainability Manager

The United Nations estimates that one-third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year goes to waste. Per capita waste by consumers is between 95-115 kilograms a year in Europe and North America, while consumers in sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, each throw away only 6-11 kilograms a year.

food-waste-at-uvm

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Posted in UVM | Tagged diet, food access, hunger, UVM | Leave a comment

How S’ra DeSantis Fell In Love with Farming

Posted by Guest Author | November 15, 2016

By Dorothy Neagle
GoodFoodJobs.com

Sometimes the best jobs, the most life-changing opportunities, start with an embarrassment or a mistake. The story of S’ra DeSantis, co-director of the UVM Farmer Training Program, reminds us that, no matter how much you think you have to learn, the important part is willingness to do so. In fact, her endless motivation to learn about farming is part of what makes her a better educator today.

When did you know that you wanted to work in food?

I am not sure this is the moment I fell in love with farming, but it was the moment that I decided that I was committed to farming. The first year that I farmed at Riverberry Farm in Fairfax, Vermont, the farmer, David Marchant, handed me a flat to be transplanted. I asked him, “You transplant grass?” He frowned and replied, “Those are onions.” From that moment on, when my face turned a crimson red, I wanted to prove to him and myself that I could learn this peculiar business of farming. It has since been a rewarding learning experience ever since.

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Posted in UVM | Tagged farmer training program, UVM | Leave a comment

Celebrating the Progress of Farm to School in Vermont

Posted by Guest Author | November 12, 2016

By Jennifer Porter

Earlier this month, over 250 local and national farm to school leaders gathered at the 2016 Vermont Farm to School Conference to learn about the positive impacts of farm to school programming and help shape the future of the farm to school movement.

The conference was an opportunity for Vermont to strategize about the future of farm to school in the state as well as an opportunity to celebrate how far we have come. USDA Farm to School Director Deborah Kane offered praise for the collaborative efforts across the state. She said, “Vermont has long been a leader of farm to school efforts, and this conference is a clear indicator of what has seeded that leadership.” Kane’s words give us cause to pause and reflect on Vermont’s leadership in the farm to school movement.

Photo: Flickr/US Department of Agriculture