Diana Pena is an active affiliate of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Public Effectively being division in Georgia and serves as Farm to College Coordinator on their Georgia Division. Additionally, Diana assists Georgia Organics’ Farm to College team in meeting all goals related to our Georgia Farm to College Alliance strategic plan as well as early care coaching strategic plans.
Georgia Organics and the Georgia Division of Public Well being have collaborated on creating the Farm to College Innovation Mini Grant Program. These funds support farm to highschool initiatives which:
Introduce native, contemporary, organically produced meals
Adopt culturally inclusive meals and coaching techniques
Enhance local food procurement.
Georgia certified organic farmers may earn extra revenues via various strategies.
To explore further about the Farm to College Innovation Mini-Grant Program, simply click right here.
Fannin County College System has won our Mini-Grant award and are delighted to feature their Farm to College Innovation Mini-Grant enterprise led by Martha Williams (Director of Food Planning & Wellness) and Seth Davis (agriculture teacher). This innovative enterprise at Fannin County Heart Colleges will take place within this mini-grant award period.
Once receiving information regarding this grant, Mr. Davis devised an ambitious agricultural project designed to add something extra special to FCMS: vermicomposting.
Vermicomposting is crucial because it increases crop nutrition while improving soil development and drainage.
One of the challenges Fannin County Center Schools encountered was purchasing and procuring vermicomposting tools, according to Martha, “in light of present chain deficits this program took longer to take effect than anticipated”. However, Martha believes the success of the endeavor amply justifies this setback.
Martha notes that students of FCMS enjoyed participating in this plan and watching what their worms are up to each day. Additionally, some fertilizer has even been utilized for cultivating cilantro plants for Taco Tuesday type experiments!
Martha and Mr. Davis hope to expand the Vermicomposting Enterprise at FCMS! Martha states they are working together on expanding it past classroom activities by including some cafeteria waste as sources for nutrients to add vermicompost. By-products will then be utilized when planting seeds within FCMS greenhouse.
Martha expresses their delight with Fannin County’s continued work towards cultivating this symbiotic relationship between people and nature, fueling Georgia’s future while offering important hands-on experience to stakeholders alike! Keep up your great work Fannin County!
