Moms and dads know it can be quite difficult to get children excited about eating even an average vegetable, not to mention the weird looking ones, like heirloom varieties. But, Emily Jackson is up for the challenge and gets area children engaged with fresh, local food daily as program director for Growing Minds (GM), a farm to school initiative though Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP). As a teacher and past farmer, Emily blended the two together and started a garden at her school in 2002. By 2004, the garden morphed into GM, which today serves as the Regional Lead Agency for six states for the National Farm to School Network.

What does farm to school mean?
We define farm to school as four components: 1) school gardens 2) farm field trips 3) hands-on nutrition education, and 4) local food served in school cafeterias; locally grown food is served in Asheville City, Madison County, Yancey County and Mitchell County schools.

What are some of the main goals of Growing Minds?
Since our primary constituency is farmers, farm to school as a market for farmers is our main concern. Growing the next generation of citizens who will care for and appreciate local agriculture is another goal.

What are some accomplishments in your work with Growing Minds of which you’re most proud?
Being one of the few programs in the country to expand into serving Head Start centers, seeing that our work is having an impact on children and their families, and helping area teachers integrate these experiences into their daily instruction. I need to brag on a few teachers and schools that have really embraced farm to school. Last summer, Patti Evans at Isaac Dickson developed a garden camp at the school. Susan Cooper and Janet Miller at Emma Elementary have been steadfast in their dedication to their school garden. And, up in Mitchell County, Tamara Houchard at Gouge Elementary participated in a project where her children visited a farm and prepared food from that farm. Teachers really getting GM and knowing how to use it to its full potential is the biggest accomplishment of all, and we can’t take credit for that.

What is your favorite aspect of the program? And what, typically, are children’s favorite aspects?
My favorite part of our program is helping establish school gardens. Children are so excited and show such ownership of their gardens. It also dispels the myth that children won’t eat healthy food. I’ve seen children eat raw beets in the garden! Children are just like adults when it comes to food: they appreciate food that is well prepared, is presented in a pleasant manner, and to which they have some relationship.

What is your favorite local food?
Gosh, that’s hard. I guess I would have to go with heirloom tomatoes and eating corn raw, right off the cob!

When are you the happiest?
In the spring, planting the first seeds and being with children when the first sprout sprouts!

For more information on Growing Minds, visit www.growingminds.org. For more information on the National Farm to School Network, visit www.farmtoschool.org.

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