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Monthly Farm to School News from Growing Minds
November 2024
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I always say my love language is cooking for those I care about, especially during holidays. We all have special food memories–remembering how the table was set, family and friends gathered around, aromas of culinary delights, and enjoying a culturally significant dish passed down through the generations. The fall harvest season is all about spending time with those we love and giving thanks for all we have, especially this year. It’s a time to share our stories through the food we make or around the table as we eat. We hope you and yours are safe and well.
Enjoy the season,
Debbi (and my wonderful team members, Danielle and Suzi)
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Three Sisters Soup is reminiscent of chili. It is a traditional Native American stew consisting of squash, corn, and beans–crops known as the Three Sisters because of the Native American tradition of planting them together in the garden. This practice was good for the soil and yielded healthy vegetables. Learn more here, and use the Three Sisters lesson plan from our “I Tried Local…” Toolkit with your students this month!
The recipe below comes from the Team Nutrition CACFP Multicultural Recipe Project. Prefer a vegetarian version? Try this meat-free recipe from the First Nations Development Institute.
Three Sisters Soup
Ingredients:
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 4 ounces ground beef, at least 90% lean, raw, fresh or frozen
- 2/3 cup onions, fresh, 1/4-inch diced
- 2 cloves garlic, fresh, minced (1 clove is about 1/2 teaspoon minced)
- 1 tablespoon jalapeno pepper, fresh, seeds and veins removed, minced
- 2/3 cup butternut squash, fresh, 1/2-inch cubed
- 1/4 cup green beans, fresh, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 3 tablespoons corn, frozen
- 1 tablespoon thyme, dried
- 1/4 cup summer squash, fresh, unpeeled, 1/2-inch diced
- 1/4 cup zucchini, fresh, unpeeled, 1/2-inch diced
- 11 ounces kidney beans, low-sodium, rinsed, and drained or kidney beans, dry, cooked (1 1/2 cups + 2 Tbsp)
- 1/3 cup tomato sauce
- 3/8 cup diced tomatoes with juice
- 1/4 cup water
Directions:
- Coat a medium skillet with nonstick cooking spray.
- Heat the skillet on medium–high heat.
- Add ground beef and brown in skillet. Heat to 165°F or higher for at least 15 seconds. Drain.
- In a medium stockpot, add browned beef, onions, garlic, jalapeno peppers, butternut squash, green beans, corn, and thyme. Cook for 4–6 minutes on medium-high heat. Stir occasionally until onions and peppers are tender.
- Add summer squash, zucchini, kidney beans, tomato sauce, tomatoes with juice, and water. Stir well. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to medium, and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir often. Heat to 140°F or higher for 15 seconds.
- Serve 2/3 cup.
CACFP CREDITING INFORMATION: 2/3 cup (No. 6 scoop) provides Legume as Meat Alternate: 1 1/2 oz equivalent meat/meat alternate and 1/4 cup vegetable OR Legume as Vegetable: 1/4 oz meat and 1/2 cup vegetable.
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“Bulb” is a term we use to refer to plants with underground, fleshy structures that store food reserves when water and nutrients are less available. There are many different types of bulbs, including spring-blooming tulip, daffodil, iris, and crocus flowers, as well as common vegetables like garlic, onions, shallots, chives, scallions, and leeks. These onion-like veggies are members of the allium plant family.
Early November is a great time to plant bulbs in the garden. These hearty crops will grow through the winter, giving kids some growth to track during the cold months. Growing Minds recommends the following garden-related tasks in November to keep your green space thriving:
Paperwhite by Nancy Wallace: Lucy and Miss Mamie bring a little spring into Mamie’s house during the cold winter months. This story celebrates the wonders of nature as well as intergenerational friendship. Watch a read aloud on YouTube. Recommended for ages 5-6.
Ode to an Onion: Pablo Neruda & His Muse by Alexandria Giardino: Pablo has a lunch date with his friend Matilde, who shows the moody poet her garden. The story is a simple ode to a vegetable that is humble and luminous, dark and light, gloomy and glad, full of grief and full of joy—just like life. Watch a read aloud on YouTube. Recommended for ages 4-8.
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Farmers markets are a great place to shop locally and support our farmers! Find a market near you and remember that at many markets you can use cash, card, or SNAP/EBT. Learn more here about how you can use SNAP/EBT and incentives like Double SNAP at markets.
As the days become chillier, warming up with a comforting soup becomes commonplace. Farmers markets are the perfect place to find produce galore for all kinds of fall soups– sweet potatoes, carrots, winter squash, potatoes, cauliflower, chicken, fresh herbs and more. It almost feels like magic to mix endless combinations of locally grown ingredients for nourishment. Check out one of our favorite soup recipes here!
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Farm to ECE Academy with Growing Minds
Are you an ECE site in Western North Carolina interested in starting a Farm to ECE program, or taking your existing program to the next level? We can help with that! Join the Growing Minds Farm to ECE Academy for the 2024-25 school year. Learn more and complete our interest form.
Nuevo recurso en español de Growing Minds
El kit de herramientas "I Tried Local..." de Growing Minds ya está disponible en español e inglés. Cada unidad incluye una descripción general de los cultivos que crecen en Carolina del Norte, planes de lecciones, recetas, paginas para colorear, recomendaciones de libros, temas para debatir, y un enlace a la serie de videos “Conozca a su Granjero”, que presenta a los agricultores de Carolina del Norte. El vídeo de Tierra Fértil Coop está rodado en español con subtítulos en inglés.
Las versiones en inglés y español están disponibles gratuitamente en formato digital aquí. Los ejemplares impresos sólo están disponibles en inglés.
Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Fund
Deadline: November 15, 2024
The Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Program is offering funding for acquiring native plants and seeds for outdoor learning areas that engage youth (preschool to high school) directly in planning, planting, and caring for native plant gardens. Apply for the 2025 planting season.
Fall 2024 Healthier North Carolina Garden Grant
Deadline: December 12, 2024
School communities (school and/or district) within the north and southeastern part of North Carolina are invited to request funds up to $2,500 to support garden projects, with the goal of increasing access to healthy foods and nutrition opportunities. Learn more and apply here.
Spark Good Local Grants
Deadline: December 31, 2024
Walmart U.S. stores, Sam’s Clubs, and Distribution Centers are awarding local cash grants ranging from $250 to $5000. These local grants are designed to address the unique needs of communities where stores operate. Learn more and apply here.
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Hurricane Relief Resources
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Our office is located at 306 West Haywood Street, Asheville, NC 28801. We are open to the public Tuesday through Thursday from 9am to 5 pm. Call 828-236-1282 or email
Growing Minds is a program of ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project). ASAP's mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food.
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