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PAGE 8 FARMERS AND CONSUMERS MARKET BULLETIN – 404-656-3722 – agr.georgia.gov WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020
FarM to school: Making squash cool in Elbert County schools

Editor’s Note: The Georgia Farm to School they’re learning those kinds of things with a with a side of sour cream.
Program is a partnership of the Georgia De- visual, not just division up on a board or the “It was a really, really neat lesson for the
partment of Education, the Georgia Depart- formula, but actually being able to see that us- class, and I’m pretty excited about it,” she said.
ment of Agriculture, Georgia Organics and the ing Georgia-grown products. That’s my rule. “I’ll tell you squash chips are now on our cycle
Georgia Department of Public Health. Farm to Whatever we do, it’s going to be something menu because the kids loved it.”
School is an effort to bring locally grown foods Georgia-grown.” Matthews said Elbert County Schools’
to schools and educate children about nutrition The district started Farm to School learning Farm to School program continues to grow.
and agriculture. For more information, go to in 2015 with no resources or plan to start. The They have partnered with the Career, Techni-
www.gafarmtoschool.org. first program was a Harvest of the Month pro- cal and Agricultural Education department at Georgie’s Drive
gram where the cafeterias would spotlight an the high school for classroom initiatives in the
By Jay Jones in-season Georgia fruit or vegetable. Matthews lower grades. A CTAE student is assigned to Thru Jefferson
jay.jones@agr.georgia.gov believed she could do more, but there was a lot work with elementary students in school gar-
of conversation among faculty and administra- dens and related lessons. Hello! I’m Georgie, the Georgia Grown mascot. I travel
School System: Elbert County School tors on how to get nutritional learning into the The school nutrition department has also the state of Georgia promoting our state’s No. 1 industry –
District, Elberton classrooms. begun a partnership with the Elbert High agriculture! As you may know, Georgia is home to some of
Meals served: 780,828 (2018-2019 school “One of the things we wanted faculty and School FFA chapter called “Devil’s Dirt.” The the greatest inventors and innovators in our country’s history.
year) staff to know was that it was not something Elbert County Schools Nutrition Director Bridgette venture creates composting materials collected One of those great innovators was Crawford W. Long. Orig-
Number of Students: 3,050 that was done on top of their curriculum. It Matthews provides a lesson in making a blueberry from school cafeterias that FFA students will inally from Danielsville, Dr. Long set up a medical practice
Most popular menu items: Squash chips wasn’t something extra,” she said. “There was dessert during class at Elbert County Elementary use in the high school’s greenhouse. Matthews in Jefferson where he decided to try and help his patients
and dip; Buffalo cauliflower; Tomato and a way that we could make it a part of the cur- School. Teachers incorporate recipes into their said composting will be another resource for cope with the pain of surgery by putting them to sleep us-
cucumber salad; Apple and kale salad with riculum they were already teaching.” math lessons to help students visualize problems in teachers to use in their classrooms. ing ether. On March 30, 1842, he successfully sedated James
division and fractions. (Elbert County Schools Photo)
vinaigrette Since then, everyone has had a hand in cul- The schools are also looking for ways to Venable and removed a cyst from his neck. When he awoke,
tivating the program. Matthews joined teach- to be healthy, fried squash was out, the district market the Devil’s Dirt compost to sell as a Mr. Venable said he felt no pain during the operation. As you
From nothing to something is how Bridgette ers in their planning lesson meetings, and soon had to be able to purchase the ingredients and fundraising project to support the greenhouse, can imagine, prior to that discovery, even minor surgery was
Matthews describes the Farm to School pro- teachers discovered new options for their stu- be able to replicate it in large amounts. which in turn will be used to support agricul- nearly impossible. Jefferson is also famous for something
gram at Elbert County Schools. As the nutri- dents. “We did it very democratically. Each stu- tural and nutritional curriculum for the entire else involving sleep: The World’s Largest Mattress! Cotton
tion director of the northeast Georgia school Second-grade students in the elementary dent presented their recipe and argued why district. Mill Interiors has been home to the record-holding mattress
district, Matthews believes the possibilities are school’s gifted program were challenged this they thought it should be the best. We put them “My daily work does really center around since 2013. It measures more than 3,000 square feet and
endless in teaching about Georgia-grown food fall with a classroom project with squash. all on a tally sheet, and then the students vot- making Farm to School a part of everything weighs more than 4,500 pounds. The mattress is bigger than
and good nutrition. Students worked their research and opinion ed,” Matthews said. that school nutrition does,” Matthews said. “As 72 king beds, 96 queen beds, 110 full beds, 156 twin beds, or
Take for example third-grade students development skills in the lessons. Along with The winning recipe was squash chips with we have progressed through the years, I realize 1,536 of Morty’s pet beds! The owners wanted to build the
learning division using pecans and muffin tins tending squash in the school garden, students dip – baked squash cut in thin coins, roasted just how important Farm to School is to our oversized mattress to highlight the importance of getting a
or grasping the concept of fractions with an ice had to present how they cared for them, what with olive oil and Parmesan cheese and served students.” good night’s rest.
cream sundae recipe. factors helped them grow best and compare
“If you have 24 pecans and you’re going different varieties.
to divide them six ways, how many pecans go The second part of the project was for stu-
in each of those muffin tins sitting in front of dents to vote on which squash recipe would be Jeff Register
you?” she said. “We teach it hands-on where served in the school’s cafeteria. The recipe had
Building & Truss

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Roof Only, open gables - $4,500 Highland Home, AL

*Prices do not include tax and delivery*

RegisterBarns.com

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