Episode 41: Farm to school

With Jen Cirillo and Betsy Rosenbluth of Shelburne Farms

What is farm to school? Are there any common misconceptions about it? Why is farm to school such an essential part of the educational journey? In this lively discussion, Jen and Betsy walk us through the three Cs of farm to school, how educators can better incorporate it into their teaching (without taking up too much extra time!), the core values underlying the practice, and the ways our current food system reinforces injustice and inequity. There’s also talk of salamanders, overcoming barriers, forging meaningful relationships, and the importance of throwing a party! (A bad plant pun might have found its way into the mix, too…)

Guests:

Jen Cirillo serves as Director of Professional Learning at Shelburne Farms. She brings 20 years of experience in Education for Sustainability (EFS) from co-developing and teaching a teen program integrating art, science, and sustainability to her most recent work leading professional learning programs around the world. Jen has a strong background in standards-based curriculum development, facilitation, and evaluation, plus a wealth of experience engaging schools and communities in creating a vision for a just and healthy future. Jen holds a B.S. from the University of Vermont and an M.S. from the Audubon Expedition Institute/Lesley University.

Betsy Rosenbluth is Project Director of Vermont FEED, a nationally recognized farm-to-school partnership program of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont and Shelburne Farms.  Betsy also helped to establish the Burlington School Food Project and Education for Sustainability programs in Burlington schools. Prior to joining Shelburne Farms, Betsy was Director of Projects at the Orton Family Foundation.

*Episode edited by M. Angel Goñi Avila