Willits Farm-to-School

With an abundance of rains and some splendid splotches of sun in recent weeks, garden beds have steadily began to flourish. However they aren’t the only things in the area turning over a new leaf. Members of the Farm to School project team have been continuously working to incorporate more nutritious, locally sourced food into meals at Willits school cafeterias.

The team, which consists of North Coast Opportunities employees, local farmers, Willits Unified School District Employees and cafeteria staff, local students and Head Chef of the Ukiah Valley Medical Center, has come together to establish a “Meal of the Month” program.

The program will feature one meal prepared with locally grown, seasonal, organic food every month at each of the public schools in Willits. In addition to receiving a fresh local and nutritious meal will be an educational component attached. One premise of the program is to provide information about where the food is coming from and how it is grown to help educate students on the vast impact food has on their health and community.

“Meal of the Month is a proactive approach to improve grades, attendance and health while enhancing community at the schools through more nutritious meals,” said Mason Giem, a member of the Farm to School Team.

It is set to kick off with a trial run in late May at the Willits High School with a menu that has been developed by the Farm to School team and includes a salad, entrée and dessert. Food for the event is being grown by local farmers Antonia Partridge at Brookside School Farm, Becky Bowlds at Willits High School and Ellen Bartholomew at Ridgewood Ranch.

In the weeks leading up to the first “Meal of the Month” Chef Jim Stuart of the Ukiah Valley Medical Center will be facilitating training days at each of the schools. These trainings were established to help the eager and ambitious yet overworked and understaffed cafeteria employees utilize the equipment presently available in their kitchens in the most effective ways possible. With tight budgets and the possibility of more funding cuts the schools are not able to purchase additional kitchen appliances and attachments needed to prepare fresh produce and cook from scratch.

The Farm to School project has teamed up with Willits students to raise funds for a sustainable and lasting program. The Willits High School Peer Counseling Class is selling eco-friendly stainless steel water bottles in which profits will benefit both Peer Counseling and the Willits Farm to School program. All of the Blosser Lane Elementary students are selling re-usable bags that will provide much needed funding to their garden as well as the Willits Farm to School Program. These fundraisers and others are made possible through the local non-profit, GreenTree Footprints, and are available for any group wishing to raise money in an eco-friendly way. These environmentally friendly items can be purchased from any Blosser Lane or Peer Counseling student and will benefit a number of students throughout Willits. Contact Mason Giem at 707-841-0464 for more information about the fundraiser.

written by Cate Oliver