Farm to early care and education is happening all over Wisconsin and there are plenty of local organizations to learn from.
Apple Taste Test for Young Children: Connections to the WI Model Early Learning Standards
This resource includes ideas for apple explorations and taste test instructions for each of the early care and education age groups (infant/toddler, 2-year-olds, 3 to 5-year-olds). Make the connections between the apple activities and all five domains of the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards.
Cultivating Childhood Wellness through Gardening
This online video training was developed by the Wisconsin Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Program and Community GroundWorks in partnership with UW-Extension, Life Lab, Wisconsin Obesity Prevention Network, UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, and UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems.
This training has been approved for continuing education hours for child care providers, with 1.5 hours of Registry credit awarded for this training (see final training video for details).
Farm to Child Care Presentation and Farm to Child Care Handout from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and Community Ground Works.
Got Dirt?
In an effort to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in Wisconsin, the Department of Health Services' Nutrition and Physical Activity program developed "Got Dirt?" - a program designed to assist with the implementation of school, community, and child care gardens.
Got Veggies?
Got Veggies? is a garden-based nutrition education curriculum created with the goal of getting children to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Got Veggies? features seven full lesson plans that are aligned with Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards for Nutrition, Health, Science, and other related subjects. A series of shorter garden-based activities are also included, as well as fun recipes and helpful tips for cooking and eating in the garden.
Got Veggies? ECE Edition!
This ECE edition builds on the lessons and activities in the original “Got Veggies?” by adopting them to meet best practices for the early care and education setting. Each of the four themes and two a la carte activities in Got Veggies ECE Edition are aligned to the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards and offer concepts and tools developmentally appropriate for children aged five and under.
Growing Healthy Children: Garden-Based Nutrition Interventions that Support the Health of Wisconsin's Youth
This garden-based toolkit from Community GroundWorks and Oneida County Health Department includes age-appropriate activities for Early Care Education and child care settings.
Healthy Bites: A Wisconsin Guide for Improving Childhood Nutrition
This resource was developed by nutrition program consultants on the Community Nutrition Team at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. By developing and implementing program policies that will improve the nutritional quality of food, encourage physical activity and educate child care providers, parents and caregivers, children can develop a sound foundation for optimal growth and development. The Healthy Bites guide is based on current scientific evidence and provides a self-assessment to allow child care programs to freely assess their own environment, program policies and practices as they relate to nutrition and physical activity. The guide also will suggest key areas for improvement and information on how to implement strategies for developing program policies in child care settings. The guide includes information on locally grown foods, gardening, and nutrition education for staff children and parents.
Making Your Own Local Baby Food
This resource is a guide for child care centers on how to make baby food from fresh and local fruits and vegetables.
REAP Food Group Resources for Kids
The REAP Farm to School team has developed resources for use in Farm to School programs. REAP’s Farm to School Program brings fresh, local, sustainably produced food to children, establishes reliable markets for local farms using sustainable agriculture practices, and provides hands-on education in Madison classrooms.
Subscribe to the Wisconsin Farm to School and Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) Newsletter
Join the Wisconsin Farm to School and Farm to ECE Newsletter to receive information on grant opportunities, resources, and farm to school and farm to ECE efforts in Wisconsin.
University of Wisconsin-Extension Urban Horticulture has information and links to a series of helpful publications that provide even more details and great tips on gardening.
Wisconsin Farm to Early Care and Education Handout
This handout was developed specifically for agencies participating on the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Topics discussed include ideas for participating in Farm to ECE and how to grow your program, Wisconsin-grown foods, and local purchasing options.
Wisconsin Farm to ECE: Considerations for Programs in YoungStar
Programs participating in YoungStar (Wisconsin’s Child Care Quality Rating and Improvement System) work to improve the quality of care and education for children and engage with families. Farm to ECE can support children in developing a positive connection to food while strengthening the health of children, families, teachers, and staff. This guide has been developed to offer farm to ECE considerations relevant to YoungStar.
Wisconsin Farm to School Toolkits
Farm to school encourages healthy lifestyles in children and helps support local economies. The Wisconsin Farm to School Toolkit was developed for school nutrition programs and producers to help create a successful farm to school program. Many of the toolkit’s resources are applicable to Farm to Early Care and Education settings.
Wisconsin Master Gardener: An association of gardeners who assist the community in understanding horticulture and the environment. Visit this site to locate a local volunteer master gardener.
Wisconsin School Garden Network
Youth garden training, support, and resources for early childhood education professionals.