The Safe
Routes to School National Partnership recently released three new factsheets to
help overcome obstacles and get rural dwellers the health benefits of walking
and bicycling.
There is no one way to fund a garden program - there are hundreds! In this
webinar, Life Lab’s
John Fisher and Gardens to Grow In’s Kevin Hesser will share a wide variety
of ideas to finance your school garden program. From finding grants and
supportive policy, to school garden micro-enterprise and farm-raisers, their
discussion will provide funding ideas for all aspects of your school garden,
including garden supplies and staffing school garden instructors. John and
Kevin’s presentation will share examples of how they have funded the school
garden programs that they run, along with insight from other successful garden
programs. Topics will include:
- Tools for creating a garden budget
- Telling your story
- Garnering school or district support
- Cultivating donors
- Farm and garden based fundraisers
- Tips for finding grants
- Policy that supports school garden programs
- Innovative ways to fund a garden program
Join this live, interactive
session to learn new ways to fund your new or existing school garden program.
John and Kevin will field questions from attendees after their presentation.Click here for more information.
Are you
looking for ideas on how to decrease the sodium school meals? Attend this FREE
workshop by the University of Minnesota Extension to learn ideas and
techniques to reduce sodium and increase the flavor. This is a hands-on
class that will keep you involved as you learn. Class size is limited to 25
people so register early.
Participants
of this informative training will:
- Understand
the health implications of consuming a high-sodium diet.
- Practice
identifying the amount of sodium in food.
- Learn
how simple scratch cooking can reduce sodium in school meals.
- Explore
and practice culinary skills to reduce the sodium content of meals.
- Learn a
variety of techniques for adding flavor to food.
Training
Details:
-
Tuesday,
June 2nd- 9 AM- Noon- Deer River, MN- Click here
to register
-
Friday,
June 12th- 9 AM- Noon- Mankato, MN- Click here
to register
-
Thursday,
June 18th- 9 AM- Noon- Marshall, MN- Click here
to register
-
Tuesday,
June 29th- TBD afternoon- Wadena, MN- Click here
to register
If you have any
questions about these regional workshop offerings please contact Terri
Swartout, School Health Coordinator, MN Department of Education at 651-582-8377.
Funding announcement from USDA FNS
regarding funds to increase SNAP accessibility and participation at farmers’
markets. Per the grant announcement, eligible grant uses include, but are not
limited to:
- Salaries
and benefits for time spent on SNAP activities, including:
- Operating SNAP-EBT
machines at market(s);
- Completing SNAP
accounting and reporting tasks for market(s);
- Creating/operating
systems (such as scrip, accounting, record-keeping) necessary to make SNAP
operational at market(s); and
- Training and technical assistance to farmers’
market volunteers, vendors, and employees on SNAP.
- Creating SNAP
outreach and educational materials and performing outreach to current SNAP
participants to inform them they may use their SNAP benefits at farmers’ markets;
outreach must be conducted in accordance with the Farm Bill prohibitions on
recruiting, advertising, and collaboration with foreign governments.
- Miscellaneous
equipment, other than SNAP-EBT equipment -- such as scrip, wifi hotspots,
accounting software, etc. – necessary for SNAP-EBT equipment to operate at
farmers’ markets.
Read the press release here.
Research studies indicate that SRTS
has increased rates of walking and biking and improved safety. Studies also
show the program is an economically sound investment that can decrease health
costs and school transport costs.
The research review
shows that:
- Actively commuting to and from school could improve mental and
physical health.
- SRTS has increased the number of students who walk or bike to and
from school.
- Unsafe routes make it harder for students to walk or bike to and
from school. SRTS has made it safer for students to walk or bike to or from
school.
- SRTS can lower health care and transportation costs for school
districts and families.
- Communities can take action on SRTS through subdivision
regulations that require sidewalks, education facility plans that ensure access
to school by foot and bicycle, school wellness policies that include Safe Routs
to School, and capital improvement plans that prioritize engineering
improvements near schools.
First Nations
Development Institute (First Nations) will host the “Food as Economic Development in Minnesota Native Communities”
convening July 8-10, 2015, at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake. At this free event, attendees will coalesce around recognition of the power of
household and tribal spending on food that contributes to the strengthening of
local Native economies.
Priority registration
will be given to Minnesota-based tribal community representatives. Registration
will be capped at 60 attendees, so act quickly! For complete information and
registration, visit this link: http://www.firstnations.org/fednc
KIDS In The GAME is a nonprofit organization focused on inspiring
kids to thrive in life through sports. The organization is inviting public and
charter schools enrolled or willing to enroll in the Let’s Move! Active Schools
program, and with no current physical education program, to apply for a GO!
grant. The $1,000—$5,000 grants support physical activity in before, during,
and after-school programs serving children ages 5—12 years. The programs can be
new or an expansion of a current project. Applications must be received by June
1.
For more information, click here.
Interested in promoting farmers markets and helping individuals and families using SNAP to meet their nutritional needs?
The 2015 EBT & Market Bucks Initiative season has arrived!
Once again, the Initiative is offering free promotional materials to get the word out about EBT at farmers markets and the Market Bucks healthy eating incentive. These free materials can be ordered by following this link and completing the form.
Since 2010 the EBT & Market Bucks Initiative has provided Market Bucks—a healthy eating incentive—and support to create and sustain a network of farmers markets that accept EBT so that SNAP participants can use their benefits to purchase fresh, local produce at farmers markets across the state. The incentive provides a dollar-for-dollar match, up to five dollars' worth of coupons per day, to customers who use SNAP benefits to purchase SNAP-eligible foods at participating farmers markets. For more information on how you, or a farmers market near you can get involved, please contact farmersmarkets@state.mn.us
|