Deb’s berry farm is owned and operated by Jeff and Deb Sindelar. Deb’s specializes in a variety of different and unique berries, as well as honey. A lot of people have never tried or even heard of the honeyberries or kiwiberries they offer. Deb’s berry farms have been providing these delicious, flavorful berries for students […]
Growing microgreens is an easy, inexpensive, and tasty way for students to learn about the plant cycle through hands-on activity and fast results. While working through the activity, ask these guiding questions: What do plants need to survive? What plant parts can you identify? What are their functions? How do plants change over time? What […]
On October 13th, school districts, community centers, and private schools across the state participate in Iowa Local Food Day, a Farm to School initiative that brings food from local Iowa farmers to students throughout Iowa. Field to Family is honored and excited to once again procure delicious, healthy, local produce for kids across the state! […]
It’s easy to find a pint of locally grown cherry tomatoes in Johnson County, Iowa in September. It’s not so easy to find enough to feed an entire school district. In June 2019, Field to Family evolved into a nonprofit food hub in an effort to tackle that challenge. Our past: How Field to […]
A few years back, home daycare provider Anita Schaefer bought an “Aerogarden” with a Farm to ECE Grant. These indoor, hydroponic gardens are a great way to start seeds and grow things like herbs indoors, but they can be pricey. A colleague wondered aloud if there was a way to make a bigger, cheaper version […]
Daycare provider Anita Schaefer loves bringing the garden into her at-home daycare. One of her favorite activities for little ones is a seed starting comparison activity. Kiddos as young as 18 months are able to plant seeds in cups of soil and watch them grow. Slightly older kids are able to guess which seeds will […]
Invite local farmers into your classroom digitally! Each season, Field to Family prepares up to 3 local farmers to connect with classrooms in our area and share information about what’s happening on the farm. Contact [email protected] to arrange a digital visit. Browse our Farm to Classroom Resource Portal to learn more about bringing the farm […]
Farmer Fair Presentations Go Virtual These videos bring some of our favorite Farmer Fair presentations online! Show them in your classroom, send to students for at-home viewing or use as inspiration for virtual collaborations with local farmers. 7 minutes Recommended for Upper Elementary Join Farmer Susan on a virtual tour of Lucky Star Farm in […]
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig toured Field to Family’s facility on Friday, Feb. 5 to discuss getting more food grown close to home on Iowans’ plates. Staff was thrilled to share the organization’s story, introduce local stakeholders and talk about what it takes to connect farmers and buyers on-the-ground. By managing purchase, aggregation, distribution […]
<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/_qRlOV_QoIM” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe> Farmer Scott Koepke of Sugar Grove Farm gives a 14-minute crash course in all things soil in this high-pace video version of his regular Farmer Fair presentation. This project was possible because of a USDA Farm to School Grant awarded to Iowa […]