Ontario Farm to School Inspiration: Paris District High School

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Author: Josie Di Felice

Posted: January 24, 2017

Categories: Edible Education Network / GoodFoodBites / News from Sustain Ontario / Schools

Canada’s 3rd Annual National Farm to School Month, led by Farm to Cafeteria Canada (F2CC), was held throughout the month of October 2016.

A number of schools submitted Farm to School stories to F2CC as part of the month’s #ThinkandEatLocalatSchool contest. Here is the third story that we’re sharing as inspiration for 2017!

Paris District High School shared the following on how they engage in thinking and eating local at school:

The Grade 12 Nutrition and Health classes enjoy cooking a variety of fresh, local and homemade meals through our foods program.
Students are taught lessons on the 100 mile diet, eating whole foods that are local, organic food and free range food choices.
We discuss in class how all of these food should be included in a healthy balanced diet. I make curriculum connections to diet, disease, and eating locally whole foods.
I’ve invited guest speakers to class to present for example, the dairy farmers of Canada.
I take groups of students to the local farmers market, St. Jacob’s market, and Kensington market in Toronto.
Our classes have cooked a number of healthy and locally grown produce in our recipes.
My grade 12’s have made stir fry’s, pot pie’s, apple dumplings etc. and have included many locally grown vegetables such as, potatoes, corn, carrots, mushrooms, and snow peas.
As part of the grade 12 curriculum students learn about Food Distribution Centre’s and the Ontario Food Terminals in Toronto; markets that serve all of Ontario.
In addition, students learn the importance of building a sustainable food systems, community supported agriculture, food availability and the accessibility in our community. I emphasize the importance of using locally grown vegetables/fruits in our food labs and the connection it makes to our community and our health.

Many thanks to Paris District High School for sharing their story! Also in this series, check out:

Stay Tuned – stories from Farm to School Month 2016 will continue to be posted on the Sustain Ontario Blog.