October 14th , 2006
11:30am – 4:00pm

Abernethy Elementary
2421 SE Orange
Portland, Oregon 97214

11:30am-1:00pm. Open seating at 11:30am and 12:15pm.

Join us for a fabulous, authentic cafeteria meal. You will stand in line with the other kids, purchase a pint of milk and discover the freshness awaiting you at the salad bar.

You will feel ten years younger, at least!

Linda Colwell, Abernethy's fantastic Lunch Lady, will create magic in the kitchen to bring you the cafeteria meal of your lifetime.

Proceeds support the Garden of Wonders project at Abernethy Elementary and Ecotrust's evaluation of the scratch kitchen model.

1:00pm-4:00pm

Don't miss this opportunity to glean valuable knowledge from those who have experience starting school gardens, scratch kitchens and other relevant endeavors!

1:00pm-4:00pm

Enjoy the pleasures of the belly and the farm. Here are some of the activities that will take place:

• Pumpkin carving and seed roasting
• Apple pressing in a cider press
• Cooking demo for kids
• Grinding corn into corn meal and polenta with Ayers Creek Farm
• Worm bin activity with Growing Gardens
• Preparing garden beds for winter
• Live music
• Learn about the daily life of a farmer
• Taste testing with Slow Food
• Biodiesel lesson with Kettle Foods
• Bread baking in a portable wood fired oven
• Yoga with kids

No need to sign up for these.

Children must be accompanied by an adult to Recess!
Recess! happens rain or shine so bring your rain gear.

How to Start an Edible School Garden
Food and garden education is growing throughout the Portland area. Take a tour through Abernethy's Garden of Wonders and the Garden of Wonders classroom, where K-5 students are learning, from seed to plate, about food. Following the tour a panel of local school garden coordinators will discuss the nuts and bolts of getting your own school garden program off the ground. 

Local Food in Local Cafeterias
What is really going on in the Abernethy kitchen? What types of programs are developing and who are the Farm-to-School leaders in the Northwest? Visit the Abernethy Café and join a discussion with Northwest school districts that are making institutional changes in school food. They will share the challenges and opportunities of incorporating local food in school kitchens.

Wellness Model Development at the School, District and National Level
The Federal Child Nutrition and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act of 2004 mandates that any school district participating in the federal school lunch program adopt a wellness policy by the 2006-2007 school year. During this session a school wellness advocate will discuss what is occurring locally and nationally to improve school nutrition and wellness. A panel will discuss what you can do in your own school to improve students' health and create your own wellness model.

Farm Tours: Connecting Students to Their Food Source
Portland is fortunate to have well-developed farm education programs. Educators from Zenger Farm, Sauvie Island Center, Learning Gardens Laboratory, and Oregon Tilth's Organic Education Center at Luscher Farm will discuss how their programs teach students where their food comes from and the importance of maintaining our urban farm space. Participants will learn how to build a great farm experience for children.

Developing Innovative Food and Garden Curricula
Gardens are a great way for children to learn about the natural world and their relation to it. During this session participants will learn creative ways to connect food and garden education to district standards in math, science, social studies and art for K-5th grade. Curricula resources and sample lessons will be available to all participants.

Teaching Cooking to Kids
Growing food, small hands and good kitchen skills are the best ingredients for life long healthy eating. This hands-on workshop for adults will focus on key components of teaching cooking skills to children. Learn the secrets of turning kids on to cooking from the garden, bringing food education to the classroom and go home with a tool kit of do's and don'ts of food safety.

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