About the Conference

The Maine Farm & Sea to School Network has hosted the Maine Farm & Sea to School Conference since 2015. Returning after a long pause, this statewide one-day event is dedicated to growing and strengthening Farm & Sea to School across Maine. The event is geared towards K–12 schools and Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs.

Join educators, school nutrition professionals, farmers, fishermen, ECE providers, students, and advocates from across the state for a full day of networking, hands-on workshops, and peer to peer learning. Together we'll explore sourcing and serving local food in meal programs, integrating agriculture and food education into the classroom, and building opportunities for hands-on place based learning in the garden all while building the connections that make Farm & Sea to School thrive in Maine.

Farm & Sea to School connects classrooms, cafeterias, and communities in pursuit of a healthier, more just food system. Farm & Sea to School takes a three-pronged approach that addresses local procurement, school gardens and hands-on learning, and educational curriculum or activities related to agriculture, food, health, or nutrition. These initiatives build relationships between schools and local farms and fisheries, bringing locally grown and caught foods to the places where children eat and learn. Through hands-on experiences, children and students can connect the dots of where their food comes from and the impact of their choices on their bodies, the environment, and their local communities.

In Maine, we recognize our waterways as a vital source of food and community, and so center both farm AND sea, honoring the significance of the Gulf of Maine, our inland waterways, and the fishermen and farmers that sustain us.

Farm & Sea to School is growing into early childhood education across center-based and family childcare settings, preschools, Head Start programs, and home visiting programs, impacting children at every stage of their earliest years. When Farm & Sea to School extends into early childhood, everyone benefits:

• Young children develop early connections to food, nature, and their community

• Families are welcomed into the learning community through food and culture

• ECE providers gain curriculum tools rooted in place-based, hands-on learning

• Local farmers and fishermen reach new markets and the next generation of eaters

• Maine builds a stronger food system, starting with its youngest learners

In collaboration with MCD and Healthy Kids Healthy Futures project, we are excited to offer to cover the cost of the event plus $75.00 travel stipend for up to 20 Early Care and Education providers! This is a great opportunity to meet other sites, technical assistant providers and resources that can support you in Farm to ECE strategies! For questions, please contact Sarah at s.sims@hccame.org