Salish Coast Farm to School on KING5

3/27/24

This week the Farm to School program at Salish Elementary was featured on aKING 5 news segment. District Food Manager, Shannon Gray and Production Garden Farmer, Neil Howe were interviewed as part of KING 5's segment on the USDA's new directives for using less sodium, sugar, and fat in schools meals and more veggies and fruit.

The production gardens at the Port Townsend School District are a shared effort of FBG volunteer moxie and school meal driven collaboration. The gardens first started over 20 years ago with a small plot at the high school by teacher Tim Behrenfeld and developed/managed by FBG volunteer Lys Burden (now co-managed by Doug Van Allen and Rachel Dunn). Seth Rolland instigated the Blue Heron Orchard in 2010 which has 70 flourishing fruit trees. The Salish Coast production garden began last year under Neil's direction. All together in 2023, these gardens produced 6000 pounds of fresh food for the school meals.

On top of the 6000 pounds, the PT Gleaners contribute fresh fruit and apple sauce to the school meal program and the Schools give back produce to the Food Banks when school isn't in session. Students benefit directly from the fresh food and also learn how to give back and support the community in which they live.

Link to Video here.