Farm to Early Care Highlights
Farm to Early Care can look lots of different ways - we want to highlight some of the great working happening around the state. Farm to early care spans growing, talking about food, connections with local growers, serving local food, and so much more. Everything from creative play to field trips to plant exploration give kids the opportunity to explore and think about food in new ways.
Scroll down to learn more about some great work around Minnesota!
This page is constantly expanding - want to be featured? We want your great work shown here - email hello@farmtoearlycaremn.org!
Westwood Early Childhood Center, West Metro
Westwood Early Childhood Center does all sorts of great Farm to Early Care activities! Each classroom has its’ own garden space, and classes do a variety of activities exploring and learning about growing and eating!
Cheri, Northwest Minnesota
Cheri says, “We started with most of the kids afraid of bees. We ended the summer with, ‘Cheri, look! A bee is resting on my jacket! Awww, hey little fuzzy buzzy’.” Cheri like beekeeping so much she is expanding next year. What an amazing learning opportunity for the kids at Cheri’s early care!
Little House Preschool
At Little House Preschool, Veronica does so many different farm to early care things. She purchases produce from local farmers (watermelon! strawberries!), gardens, and cooks with her kids. Last summer, she even had a visit from a local farmer and visited a strawberry patch with the kids she cares for! Veronica says, “our garden is beautiful and there are many happy children!” And her photos show just that - what great exploration of food and growing!
Monica, West Central MN
Monica gardens with the kids she cares for, and is able to engage kids in the process of purchasing local foods and growing their own food. She says:
Marcia, North Central Minnesota
In 2022, Marcia gardened with the kids she cares for, and the kids got to help care for, harvest, and eat the produce. She is hoping to expand next year - she is planning to install three additional raised beds!
Shannon L., North Central Minnesota
Shannon grew so many things this season. They planted a wide variety of different veggies, including squash, broccoli, cabbage, peppers, and tomatoes.
Stephanie, SW Minnesota
We started it as being a pizza garden but added a couple of sunflowers for color and then I found a discounted pumpkin plant that has gone crazy!
Mi Casita Spanish Immersion Daycare
Diana Carolina Rojas Paiba, owner of Mi Casita Spanish Immersion Daycare based out of Minneapolis, installed a raised bed garden at her early care. She hopes through this process, kids learn how to eat more healthily, without worrying where the money will come from to purchase the food, and that by taking care of the plants, they can depend on them as a source of food.
Roots and Wings Forest School
“Teaching kids about where their food comes from is so important! Understanding the farm-to-table process allows them to have a greater appreciation for the foods we eat, the farmers that grow them, and the process it takes to get our food to our bellies.”
Care a Lot Child Care
“By providing opportunities for the children to engage and learn, they will be proud to help provide healthy meals to bring home. They will try new foods and recipes and be excited to engage in lifelong learning about healthy living and eating.” -Roxanne Stinar
Templin’s Tiny Tots
Lisa has implemented many farm to early care-related activities at her early care. She has an imaginary play area with fruits and veggies, and also tried out growing food with the kids she cares for this year. She says, “[Gardening] was a chance for kids to watch things grow, and eat them. One kid loves cherry tomatoes, and one day we were able to pick 25! A couple of kids that weren’t sure took a bite too.”