Quick Start Guide: Farm to School & Farm to ECE

Farm to school and farm to early care doesn’t have to be complicated. This Quick Start Guide gives you simple, practical steps you can use today to bring fresh, local foods and hands-on learning to your school or early childhood program—no matter your role or experience.

 

How to Use This Guide

Below, you’ll find quick start steps tailored to your role. Whether you're a teacher, nutrition staff member, administrator, early childhood educator, farmer, or community partner, choose the guide that fits you best—or start with the general steps below.

 
 

General Quick Start Steps

Step 1: Assess Where You Are

Ask yourself:

  • What is happening already?

  • Do you have a garden, occasional taste tests, or no farm to school activity yet?

  • Who is already excited or involved?

  • What are your current strengths and gaps?

Step 2: Identify Your Goals

Are you hoping to:

  • bring more local food into school meals?

  • create or expand a school garden?

  • add curriculum‑based food or agriculture learning?

  • do all of the above?

Step 3: Form a Team or Identify Champions

School nutrition staff, teachers, administrators, local farmers, students, parents, and community partners each play an important role.

Step 4: Pick One Small Starting Step

Examples from the national list include:

  • transition one menu item to a local product

  • find a farmer or distributor who carries Indiana items

  • plan a local meal or tasting event

  • identify curricular connections for food or garden learning

  • bring a chef into the classroom

  • plan a farm field trip

Step 5: Identify Local Partners

Use the Indiana Producer Directory to find nearby farmers, growers, food hubs, and distributors.

You can also connect with a FARMWISE Value Chain Coordinator. They help schools and farmers overcome barriers, explore new products, build relationships, and navigate procurement.

Step 6: Learn From Others

If you run into obstacles, someone has solved them before.

Explore:

Step 7: Promote Your Work

Highlight activities through:

  • cafeteria signage

  • bulletin boards

  • newsletters

  • websites

  • PTA or family events

  • local media

Step 8: Celebrate Your First Win

Early success builds excitement among staff, students, and families.

Step 9: Request Support Anytime

Use the Technical Assistance Portal for individualized planning, procurement guidance, farm connections, or farm to ECE.

 
 

Choose Your Quick Start Guide

Whether you're a teacher, nutrition staff member, administrator, farmer, or community partner, select the guide that best fits your role to get tailored, beginner‑friendly steps.

 
 

  • Start with simple activities:

    • seasonal taste tests

    • garden-themed books

    • seed planting

    • food origin mini-lessons

    • garden explorations

    Connect locally:

    The Producer Directory can help you find nearby farms for photos, samples, or engagement.

    Use ready-made tools:

    Lesson plans, taste test templates, garden guides.

    Learn from others:

    Connect with other teachers through Indiana Grown for Schools or National Farm to School Network.

    Share your success:
    Photos and stories help encourage support.

  • Start small:
    Add one Indiana-grown item to your menu.

    Connect with producers:
    Find farmers, distributors, and hubs via the Producer Directory.

    Plan local meal events
    One-day, one-week, or seasonal celebrations build excitement.

    Use procurement basics:
    Bid templates, ordering guidance, local procurement rules.

    Connect with FARMWISE Value Chain Coordinators:
    Coordinators help explore products, prepare for procurement, and link schools to farmers.

    Promote your work:
    Bulletin boards, cafeteria signage, newsletters, menu icons.

  • Try sensory food exploration
    Textures, colors, smells, simple tasting.

    Micro-gardening
    Cups, herbs, windowsill plants.

    Early learning food connections:
    Books, pretend markets, garden songs.

    Connect locally:
    Partner with farms or Extension educators.

    Use Farm to ECE toolkits
    Sensory ideas, simple garden guides.

  • Assess your baseline
    Understand what your school already does or hopes to do.

    Find your champions
    Teachers, nutrition leaders, families.

    Support one pilot
    Start small to build momentum.

    Explore funding
    USDA grants, local partnerships, mini-grants.

    Connect with Child Nutrition Programs
    IDOE offers state-level support, resources, and technical guidance.

  • Reach out to schools:
    Start with nutrition directors or administrators.

    Offer simple engagement:
    Samples, farm photos, classroom videos, mini visits.

    Identify product opportunities:
    Coordinate with nutrition staff or FARMWISE coordinators.

    Explore school-friendly packaging:
    Small packs, classroom-safe items, kid-friendly foods.

    List your farm:
    Make yourself visible through the Producer Directory.

    Work with FARMWISE Value Chain Coordinators:
    They help producers understand school demand, packaging expectations, and procurement processes.

  • Offer support:
    Help with gardens, taste tests, field trips, guest lessons.

    Bridge connections:
    Link schools with farmers, distributors, and Extension.

    Share resources:
    Grants, volunteers, teaching materials.

    Join IGFSN statewide network events:
    Learn from others and build cross-sector partnerships.

 

READY TO BEGIN?

Start small, explore new ideas, and reach out anytime, we’re here to help your farm to school or farm to ECE program grow!

 
eXPLORE tOOLKITS
fIND lOCAL PRODUCERS
rEQUEST sUPPORT