Farm to School refers to the nationwide movement to connect classrooms and cafeterias with local communities and farms in order to improve school nutrition and foster students’ ability to make healthy, environmentally-conscious food choices.

For years, students from Vergennes and other local schools have been visiting and volunteering in the Community Garden. Produce from the garden can be  found on the menu at Vergennes Union High School’s cafeteria in the  fall.  Walden students host an annual Local Foods Feast at the high  school, and are currently working with the Highfields Center for  Composting to develop a school-wide composting system.

Willowell recently partnered with the Addison County Relocalization Network (ACORN) to support a full time farm to school coordinator in Addison County, Hannah Mueller.  Hannah has helped secure a  $7,000 grant from the Frances R. Dewing Foundation for a gardening and  nutrition program at Monkton Central School, and a $500 Youth Garden Grant for school garden materials at Vergennes Elementary.  Willowell is continually looking for opportunities to help students draw the link between what grows out of  the ground and what they put into their bodies.