What is the Maine Farm & Sea to School Institute?
The Maine Farm and Sea to School Institute is a year-long professional development program designed for Maine K-12 schools, districts, and early childhood programs (ECEs)
Participating schools/ECEs form teams of 4-7 members representing a variety of roles and over the year build relationships, skills, and shared action plans to build Farm & Sea to School (FSTS) programming within their school/ECE communities.
By the end of the Institute, teams are equipped with the tools, resources, and shared leadership necessary to support one another and their FSTS action plans across their school or district.
Watch the Institute in Action
video from Just One Look Media https://www.justonelookmedia.com/
Commitment and Timeline
Applications Open: January 2027
Informational Webinar: (watch recording)
Applications Due: March 2027
Selected Teams Announced: April 2027
Kick-off Academy Program: July 2027
The Academy Program - Begin your Institute year at our in-person residential retreat at The Ecology School in Saco, ME. Dive into Farm to School action planning, meet and work with your coach, network with peers, and engage in hands-on learning within a living laboratory. Learn more about The Ecology School campus.
September-May: Throughout the school year, you and your team will meet regularly with your coach to implement your action plans. Participate in a virtual mid-year check-in with the Institute cohort, attend virtual workshops, and provide feedback for program growth through an evaluation process.
June: Teams will come together for a year-end virtual gathering to celebrate success and collaborate on challenges. You will work with your coach to establish an action plan for the year to come.
Alumni Teams: Join a growing network of schools and teams across Maine dedicated to building and sustaining Farm & Sea to School programming. Through alumni gatherings, you'll have the opportunity to learn from peers and share strategies for ensuring the long-term success of your program.
“The institute will train school communities and other stakeholders to establish their own farm to school programs and explore approaches to promote student nutrition education, including school gardens and local food sourcing.”
— UMaine News
Want to learn more?
In the News
Maine school lunch trays are being taken over by locally grown foods
“Between 25 and 30 percent of the overall food budget in the Falmouth school department is spent on locally grown, raised and processed ingredients either directly from farmers or on food grown by students on the Falmouth school campuses. School districts around Maine are doing the same thing and now…”
Maine Partners Launch Farm to School Institute with Support from USDA Service-Learning Grant
“A new Maine Farm to School Institute for rural middle and high schools will focus on sourcing local food and cultivating student leadership in food and agriculture.The U.S.”
Collins, King Announce Nearly $225,000 to Expand Sustainable, Nutritious Meal Options in Maine Schools
“Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the University of Maine has received a total of $224,963 to create a new Maine Farm to School Institute, which will connect schools with locally grown food and educate rural middle and high school students about nutrition.”
New Farm to School Institute being created for Maine
ORONO — A new Maine Farm to School Institute for rural middle and high schools will focus on promoting and sourcing local food, and educating students about what they eat.
Maine’s 1st Farm & Sea to School Institute Launch
New program launched to bring more local food to Maine schools
“Every school district is unique, with resources available to them, and so by schools developing their own plan, it really fits their community, their needs, what they have going on and where they want to go with farm to school," Falmouth School Nutrition Director Martha Poliquin…”
Maine Partners Launch Farm to School Institute with Support from USDA Service-Learning Grant
“A new Maine Farm to School Institute for rural middle and high schools will focus on sourcing local food and cultivating student leadership in food and agriculture.The U.S.”
Collins, King Announce Nearly $225,000 to Expand Sustainable, Nutritious Meal Options in Maine Schools
“Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the University of Maine has received a total of $224,963 to create a new Maine Farm to School Institute, which will connect schools with locally grown food and educate rural middle and high school students about nutrition.”
New Farm to School Institute being created for Maine
ORONO — A new Maine Farm to School Institute for rural middle and high schools will focus on promoting and sourcing local food, and educating students about what they eat.