Farm to Plate Gathering: Farm to School Stories to Inspire

Posted on January 21, 2025

“During my garden internship in 2023, Vermont had a very big flood. It took out our school garden, and my learning went from focusing on how to maintain and clean the garden to how to become a leader through adverse times and creating a future plan. I want to work with like-minded people who want to keep the land for future generations and preserve it now.” 

–Edwin Lynds, Senior, Woodstock Union High School’s C.R.A.F.T. Program
(Community and Climate Resilience through Agriculture, Forestry & Technology)

 

The 2024 Farm to Plate Network Gathering brought together over 300 of Vermont’s food system champions to explore making meaningful changes to meet the strategic goals of the Vermont Farm to Plate Investment Program:

  1. Increase sustainable economic development and create jobs in Vermont’s food and farm sector
  2. Improve soils, water, and resiliency of the working landscape in the face of climate change
  3. Improve access to healthy local foods for all Vermonters

But, this work isn’t just relevant to the adult attendees, as these outcomes affect the present and future of Vermont’s youth, too. Two groups demonstrated the power of engaging students during the gathering’s storytelling hour, as they shared their experiences connecting learning and school meals with Vermont’s agricultural community.

 

C.R.A.F.T.: Learning Through Interdisciplinary Partnership

Students from Woodstock Union High School’s C.R.A.F.T. Program (Community and Climate Resilience through Agriculture, Forestry & Technology) shared how hands-on, food systems courses are informing their career goals and shaping their understanding of the role they can play in building a more sustainable future.

Storytellers: Janis Boulbol, Educator; Abbie Castriotta, Gardens & Greenhouses Manager; Luca Morris, WUHS senior; Edwin Lynds, WUHS senior

 

From Cartons to Community: The Power of Organic Milk in Schools

“The culture that Vermont has around food is profound and amazing. We have a unique sense of pride. We live next to some of the best farms in the world. In my district, our school motto is ‘Vermont food for Vermont kids.’ And we're really blessed that we have Universal School meals here in Vermont, because it enables us to do what we do wholeheartedly and really lean into things like this and the next big idea.” –Harley Sterling

Discover the story behind a groundbreaking partnership between Miller Farm in Vernon, VT and Windham Northeast Supervisory Union, where innovative thinking and shared values are bringing local organic milk to schools. Farmer Pete Miller and School Nutrition Director Harley Sterling share how this collaboration is reducing waste, supporting local agriculture, and reshaping the future of school nutrition.

Storytellers: Harley Sterling, School Nutrition Director, Windham Northeast Supervisory Union; Pete Miller, Organic Dairy Farmer & Processor, Miller Farm