For the past four months, my position as the Farm to School coordinator has been funded by a YMCA Youth Eco Internship Program. With my position coming to an end, the Farm to School program is undergoing a transformation! Quamichan Middle School is excited about championing the program themselves. Quamichan is hoping to add local food sourcing to their existing lunch program and feature a local food salad bar once a week in their program. Pending approval of a grant application, CGC is hoping to support Quamichan with sourcing local food, coordinating sustainable agriculture education and purchasing a salad bar unit. 

 

One of my favourite aspects of the Farm to School program has been the partnerships we have created with local farms. Local food menu planning in the winter can have its challenges, but the Cowichan Valley has proved to be abundant with local food options. Produce and products from 23 farms created our menus and a typical Farm to School lunch featured food from five to ten farms on each plate. Of our total food budget for the program, approximately 85% was spent on food grown and raised in the Cowichan Valley and 20% on food grown and raised in British Columbia. 

 

Many thanks to our Cowichan Valley farms, Warmland House for the use of their kitchen, and staff, students and parents at Quamichan for supporting this program!