Farm to ECE Learning Collaboratives: Bringing Local Foods and Gardening Experiences to Alabama’s Children
Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) encompasses efforts that bring locally or regionally produced foods into ECE programs using three core strategies: local food sourcing, gardening, and food and agriculture education. Through these activities, Farm to ECE can increase access to fresh local foods for children in ECE programs and their families.
Alabama Healthy Kids, Healthy Future staff and trainers have promoted Farm to ECE throughout the state of Alabama through the Farm to ECE Learning Collaboratives. The Farm to ECE Learning Collaborative is a structure of professional development designed to assist early childhood educators in the implementation of Farm to ECE activities in classrooms across the state. By participating in the Farm to ECE Learning Collaboratives, ECE programs receive professional development, technical assistance, opportunities to network with other educators, and resources for making policy, system, and environmental changes to their program. When asked about their experience participating in a Learning Collaborative, one participant shared, “I love the visual component and when others add their personal experiences.”
Programs that complete the Learning Collaborative receive implementation funds to support their chosen activities, helping them create an on-site garden, purchase local foods for meals and snacks, or implement nutrition education into their program. When asked about their favorite component of Farm to ECE, one participant stated, "I enjoyed the different types of gardening and how gardening works with fine and gross motor skills. I like having the students involved in gardening and adopting healthy habits.” There are currently 154 ECE programs in the state of Alabama that have completed a Farm to ECE Learning Collaborative. From creating gardens, to hosting field trips and taste tests, early childhood educators across the state of Alabama have implemented Farm to ECE activities using the knowledge and resources acquired during the Learning Collaborative to improve the quality of their programs.
Because of the implementation of fresh fruits and vegetables into these participating programs, many providers have reported an increase in nutritious foods that children in their care are exposed to while at their program. After the training session focused on local food purchasing, one participant shared, “After participating in this training, it makes me want to reach out to the local produce places, and test different varieties of fruits and vegetables out.” The Farm to ECE Learning Collaboratives have been a vital tool for AL Healthy Kids, Healthy Future, encouraging the promotion of health and nutrition-focused professional development opportunities among early childhood educators in Alabama.
