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USDA's Farms to Schools features local farms and Nottingham Elementary

Reposted from www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/F2S/Default.htm 

In the photos you'll see products from Maple Avenue Market and Farm (Sara and Chris Guerre).

Across the country, an increasing number of schools and districts have begun to source more foods locally and to provide complementary educational activities to students that emphasize food, farming, and nutrition. This nationwide movement to enrich children’s bodies and minds while supporting local economies is often referred to as “farm to school.” The term encompasses efforts that bring local or regionally produced foods into school cafeterias; hands-on learning activities such as school gardening, farm visits, and culinary classes; and the integration of food-related education into the regular, standards-based classroom curriculum. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) supports such efforts through its Farm to School Program, which includes research, training, technical assistance, and grants. Local what? Regional offerings (and therefore economic opportunities for local food producers) can span the school meal tray and include everything from fresh fruit and vegetable servings to the wheat in the pizza crust, beans in the chili, rice in the stir fry, turkey in the sandwiches, and cheese in the quesadillas. Thus, farm to school includes of all types of producers and food businesses including farmers, ranchers, and fishermen, as well as food processors, manufacturers, and distributors. Schools can define “local” however they choose, and definitions vary widely depending on the unique geography and climate where the school is located, and on the abundance of local food producers. The Farm to School Grant Program Every year, USDA awards up to $5 million in grants to help schools connect with local producers and teach kids where their food comes from. These funds support activities ranging from training, planning, and developing partnerships, to purchasing equipment, planting school gardens, and organizing field trips. Grantees include schools and districts (large and small, rural and urban), Indian tribal organizations, producers and producer groups, non-profit entities, and state and local agencies. We’re here to help! The USDA Farm to School Program is operated by the Department’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), which has seven regional offices around the country; in each is a Farm to School Regional Lead who is available to provide farm to school related support to state agencies and other entities in their region. A list of regions, along with the names and contact information for regional and national USDA Farm to School Program staff, can be found here. To receive information and updates about USDA’s Farm to School Program, please sign up for our Farm to School E-letter. Farm to School Home Fact Sheets Farm to School Grants Local Procurement State Contacts USDA Farm to School Staff Webinars Census Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Agricultural Marketing Service Cooperative Extension Offices USDA Food Hubs Food Environment Atlas

Potomac Overlook Improvement Plan 2.0

reposted from ARLnow:

Rock Wall, Zip Line Removed from Potomac Overlook Plan

by ARLnow.com | March 8, 2013 at 4:30 pm | 553 views | 16 Comments and 1 Reaction

An ambitious plan to add amenities to Potomac Overlook Regional Park (2845 N Marcey Road) has been scaled back as a result of negative feedback from residents.

The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority has released a “Version 2.0” of its Potomac Overlook improvement plan. Officials say they made changes to the plan after receiving concerns and criticism at a community meeting last week and in the 46 Comments and 4 Reactions of an ARLnow.com article.

The new plan removes a proposed zip line, rock wall and paved parking lot from “near-term consideration.” It also establishes a “Natural Resources Advisory Committee” to study some elements of the original plan prior to any implementation. Plan elements selected for further study are the signature “tree house overlook,” a small urban farm, and any removal of healthy trees.

Elements of the plan that the park authority intends to move forward with over the next few years include:

• New programming and interpretive signage
• Tearing down an aging performance stage and replacing it with a new stage/shelter
• Renovating the Bird of Prey structure
• New kiosk/signage at park entrance
• New scout camping area near a fire circle in the back of the park
• Historic Donaldson barn site interpretation
• Adding more wood chips to trails

“We are calling this Potomac Overlook Improvement Plan Version 2.0, and I think it will please many who have shared their views with us,” said Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority Executive Director Paul Gilbert.

Free Workshop on Growing Food in the City: Vegetable Gardening 101

Contact:  Kirsten Buhls, Virginia Cooperative Extension

704-228-6414  or  mgarlalex@gmail.com

Growing Food in the City:  Vegetable Gardening 101

Learn the basic principles of food production at this free workshop offered by Virginia Cooperative Extension, with the support of Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia.  Topics to be covered include soil preparation, what and when to plant, and space-saving techniques.  

Saturday, March 23, 9:30 a.m. to noon, Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street (off Quaker Lane), Arlington.

The workshop is free but registration is requested.  Call the Horticulture Help Desk at 703-228-6414 weekday mornings or visit mgnv.org., click on 'Events Calendar' and then click on listing for the workshop. 

4MR Cleanup on Saturday

Four Mile Run Watershed Cleanup

On Saturday, March 9, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, Arlington County will be organizing its annual cleanup of the Four Mile Run watershed. This free event will take place at designated sites including Madison Manor, Bon Air, Bluemont, Glencarlyn, Barcroft, and Shirlington Parks to help clean up stream banks and park areas along Four Mile Run. Four Mile Run is Arlington’s largest watershed draining to the Potomac River.

All are welome to participate including individuals, families, and groups. Several sites have areas that are easily accessible and safe for young children.

The Arlington County Park Rangers are organizing this watershed cleanup. For more information, contact them at 703-525-0168. ACE is pleased to partner with the County and will be coordinating the cleanup sites at Barcroft Park and Shirlington Park.

Environmental Film Festival (free) - March 12-14

From www.dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org:

Changes coming to Potomac Overlook?

Reposted from ARLnow.com

Improvements Proposed for Potomac Overlook Regional Park

by Katie Pyzyk | February 26, 2013 at 1:15 pm | 

Improvements have been proposed for Potomac Overlook Regional Park, and one of the suggestions is to add a treetop “overlook.”

The park land is managed by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA), who held a meeting last night (Monday) to present the proposed improvement plans.

One of the ideas is to construct a shelter in the tree canopy where visitors could rent equipment and participate in educational programs. The site could also potentially be rented out for events.

Some of the other proposed improvements are:

• Create bus drop off plaza/welcome area with information kiosk and covered area for up to 75 persons.
• Relocate and/or improve park signage.
• Move gate further down entrance road and add parking — can add approximately 20 head-in spaces in clearings on each side of road with minimal tree loss.
• Add new asphalt cap to park roadway.
• Expand area of amphitheater to hold larger events by trimming back the vegetation on the upper side of the bowl.
• Add rock climbing, zip lines or large swings or similar features to attract groups, and help rent shelters.
• Replace existing stage with a shelter that could be rented, or used as a stage when needed. This new shelter would use the existing solar panels on its roof. Improve the interpretation of the solar shelter.
• Develop interpretation of Donaldson farm and the historic foundations located near center of park, just off the paved path.
• Renovate and expand the aging birds of prey facility — an extremely popular destination for school groups visiting the park.
• Remove outdated and dilapidated elements such as “simple pleasures trellis,” solar fan bench and toddler terrace.
• Add scout camping area in cleared area behind the Indian Garden.
• Consider reestablishing a healthy orchard area to do a “pick your own” program.
• Request long-term lease or gift of Marcey Park from Arlington County.

In addition to upgrading the existing facilities, the plan suggests revamping programs offered at the park. The ideas include the following:

• Expand the number of weeks summer camps are offered.
• Drop camps for older kids that do not fill.
• Expand camps for younger kids that are in demand.
• Offer half day camps.
• Institute on-line registration process.
• Use more summer seasonal staff, and reduce distance of field trips.
• Offer merit badge programs with scout camping for a value-added experience.
• Do fewer concerts with bigger names to improve returns.
• “Yappy Hour” events using tennis courts on scheduled evenings.
• Explore after school nature programs for area elementary schools.
• Partner with external organization to operate the Urban Agriculture area.

Funding for the project would come from the NVRPA, with the possibility of some assistance from the Northern Virginia Regional Park Foundation.

So far no start date has been set for the beginning the work because the plans are preliminary. NVRPA is currently focusing on soliciting comments and suggestions from the community, which can be emailed to Potomac@NVRPA.Org. NVRPA will hold at least one more meeting with community members regarding finalized plans before renovations begin.