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Since 2013, Ayers Foundation's Nourishing Schools program has collectively provided over 35,000 pounds of local/regional food for area school cafeterias and the previous Tower Street School and Community Center and associated programs.
In 2013, the Ayers Foundation began collaborations with local school districts, the Westerly Land Trust and Westerly Rec department to identify and allocate arable land for expansion of a farm-to-school program and community gardens. This kind of cooperation is a hallmark to community-supported agriculture and the revitalization of agriculture in the state. Farm-to-school is a concept designed around getting more locally grown food into school cafeterias while helping teach kids the benefits of growing and consuming farm-fresh food within the same community - an essential element to regenerative agriculture. If we as a township, state, and land are to reduce our addiction to the centralized industrial food production system, then we must begin with educating our youth by doing and sharing - it's that simple. |
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Today, thanks to the support of our primary benefactor and other collaborative partners, Nourishing Schools educational programs have expanded beyond the town of Westerly. Program objectives now include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Conducting on-site and off-site learning expeditions for staff and students to educate and inspire both present and future consumers and producers via hands-on experiences
- Building community around local food and farming, which is integral to the Ayers' farm-to-school program
- Augmenting the budget of Dining Services in order to empower the executive chefs' capacities to procure more local and regional foods that are clean and more nutritious than commodities
- Collaborating with the Farmers' Community Food Hub to bring healthier food to students and staff of the participating schools
- Enhancing cognitive function and athletic performance of students
- Elevating the knowledge of young adults on the subject matter of organic agriculture and sustainability in a manner that transcends USDA NOP Organic standards and reflects historical agricultural practices of indigenous peoples around the world
- Funding and organizing expert speakers on why eating a balanced diet of local, whole foods grown on biologically diverse, fertile soils is paramount and conducive to long-term mental and physical wellbeing
- Helping chefs, staff, and administrators of participating schools understand the distinct health differences between proteins raised on pasture and those raised predominantly in Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations or simply with limited range and feed alternatives.
The Nourishing Schools program is an application of our mantra, “The Wealth of a Nation Rests on the Health of its Children.” Inspiring and incentivizing chefs and school administrations to become increasingly a part of the local and regional food system for all of the aforementioned benefits (and more) is a key component of our collaborations with all of our participating schools.
Help us set the precedent and de facto standard to community resilience and wellness wherever educational institutions exist- contact us today to see how Nourishing Schools could benefit your school!
Helping to ensure the success of these programs and those to follow
cannot be achieved without your participation.
cannot be achieved without your participation.
The wealth of a nation rests on the health of its children!