Framework-08-25-14_web

10CHAPTER 02: BACKGROUNDFigure 1EducationSchool GardensProcurementTable 1: Core Elements of Farm to School (see additional details Appendix 3)Core ElementDescriptionProcurement(of local andregional foodproducts)The buying, preparing, serving and promoting of local foods and food products in schools orearly childhood education centers. “Local” is defined uniquely at each site, and can range froma radius of miles around a school district, to state boundaries, to regional distances based ongeography 5–7 .Gardening(school-basedgardens)The planting, tending, harvesting and eating of foods that takes place in outdoor garden spacesor indoors (such as through vertical gardening). Includes experiential or hands-on learning,direct food experiences, healthy food promotion, classroom curriculum and environmentaleducation activities. It may also include garden-based food production to sell foods to the cafeteriaor give to families and community members. Gardening is an active, experiential methodof education that involves learning skills related to food production.Education(food and farmrelated)Education for children and families inside and outside the classroom may include the following:• Classroom curriculum aligned to local, state and national standards in math, science, health,nutrition, language arts and social studies.• Activities and lessons about food, food production, food systems, agriculture, how foodcontributes to human health, how the food system affects natural ecosystems, etc.• Experiential learning such as farm tours, farmers’ market trips, visits from chefs, ranchers,farmers, producers and distributors, taste tests, recipe development, food preparationand cooking.• Skill development related to food production, food preparation, nutrition and cooking.EVALUATION FOR TRANSFORMATION