Celebrating Farm to School Month and Land-Based Learning

Author: Sustain Ontario

Posted: October 6, 2021

Categories: Edible Education Network / Good Food Ideas for Kids / GoodFoodBites / News from Sustain Members / News from Sustain Ontario / School Food News / Schools

October is Farm to School Month!

This year, we hope you’ll join us alongside Farm to Cafeteria Canada (F2CC) in celebrating Land-Based Learning.

“Farm to school, also known as local food to school, is grounded in re-learning, re-establishing and acknowledging and supporting existing place-based food systems. As F2CC works to advance food systems rooted in place, and as we work to better honour Indigenous ways of knowing and being, we are pleased to share that during Farm to School Month 2021 we will celebrate Land-Based Learning.”

What is meant by land-based learning?

Local food systems are rooted in the land we’re on and that we’re surrounded by, and this land comes with deep histories, stories, and lessons to share. We believe that education about our local food system must tie back to the land and its histories and stories. Land-based learning involves learning from the land and water, and understanding and fostering our connection to them. Farm to school is inextricably connected with land-based learning practices: land-based learning, as an experiential approach, helps us foster a relationship with food and understand how we sustain ourselves. Land-based learning is rooted in Indigenous teachings and worldviews, which should be acknowledged whenever this approach is used.

Land-based learning looks different for everyone and the experiences and relationships with the land will be unique for every teacher and student. More information, ideas and inspiration are shared in the resources below.

Resources

F2CC has created a new list of land-based learning resources that may be of interest to educators located in any school from coast to coast to coast. This list includes some short videos, comprehensive toolkits and hands-on activities, all aimed at helping engage school communities in exploring land-based learning and integrating it into their practice.

F2CC will also be interviewing educators about what land-based learning means and looks like to them, and hosting a conversation through the Edible Education Community of Practice about how educators can use a land-based learning approach to food system work in schools. Join the Community of Practice here to receive news about this conversation.

We encourage you to learn more on the F2CC blog. Happy Farm to School Month!